Obituary of John Paul Fugal

John Paul Fugal passed away on Sunday, September 24, 2017 at his home in Lindon. He was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah on August 18, 1921 to Jens Peter and Lavina Christina Christensen Fugal. He was the youngest of eight children and was sometimes called “the runt,” but at 6’ 6”, he was the tallest in his family. John earned the rank of Eagle Scout and loved scouting. He graduated from Pleasant Grove High School in 1939 and then attended Utah State University for two years. He was a member of the Utah National Guard. After serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northern California, he completed his bachelor’s degree in math, physics and geology at BYU in 1948. John married Elma Widdison, a school teacher he met at BYU, on June 8, 1949 in the Salt Lake Temple. In 1959, he received the first master’s degree in Religious Education awarded by BYU and went on to obtain a doctorate degree in 1967, also in Religious Education. He taught seminary for 20 years and religion at BYU for 20 years. He loved learning and teaching and directed study tours to parts of the pioneer trail, American Heritage and church history sites, the Holy Land, and lands of the Book of Mormon. An active member of the LDS Church, John served in many callings, including branch president at the MTC, bishop, and patriarch. He and Elma served missions in England and in the Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center. John and Elma are the parents of seven children: Jens Peter (Annette), Kentucky; Pamela Grass Bodell (Wade), Orem; Deborah, deceased; John Robert (Eloise), Lindon; Amy Raun (Richard), Lindon; Jared Widdison (Valene), American Fork; and Mahonri, stillborn. They have 41 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Delbert J, Vida Leone, Alda Viola, Glen Roy, Genevieve, Jean Aldous, Anna Letha and by a grandson, Micah Fugal, and a great-grandson, Gideon Grass. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 29, at 11 a.m. in the Lindon Central Stake Center, 56 East 600 North. Viewings will be held on Thursday, September 28, at the Lindon 3rd Ward Building, 320 West 500 North, from 6-8 p.m. and on Friday morning from 9:00-10:30. Interment will be in the Lindon Cemetery. Please share a memory at www.andersonmortuary.com.