Obituary of John Van Wagoner

John Chipman Van Wagoner, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, friend and neighbor passed away peacefully on Friday, September 1, 2017 in American Fork, Utah. John was born on September 17, 1933 in American Fork as the first of three children to Leo and LaRee Chipman Van Wagoner. He graduated from American Fork High School and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Brigham Young University. He served an LDS mission in the Hawaiian Islands and returned there when drafted into the U.S. Army. These experiences instilled a lasting endearment to the Hawaiian people and culture. He married his sweetheart, Kathleen Buckwalter, on March 8, 1957 in the Laie, Hawaii LDS Temple. He had a lifelong love of hunting, fishing, boating, gardening and skiing. John worked for 11 years as a Pharmaceutical Rep. at AH Robins and Syntex, where he was the National Salesman of the Year in 1969. He was the clinic manager of the Cowan Cancer Clinic in Salt Lake City for 14 years, a local dentist, John Capua, for two years, and North Valley Surgical in American Fork for seven years. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fulfilling numerous church callings. Through this service he had a positive influence in the lives of many. John is survived by his children, John E.(Lisa) Van Wagoner, Highland, UT; L. Scott (Deanna) Van Wagoner, Alpine, UT; Mark C. (Jeanne) Van Wagoner, Highland, UT; Shauna (Greg) Searle, American Fork, UT; Laurette (Blair) Vance, Lapoint, UT; 17 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Sally Francom, and brother, David L. Van Wagoner. He was preceded in death by his sweetheart, Kathleen, and daughter, Lori Van Wagoner-Shute. We welcome family and friends to join us in a celebration of his life on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 11 am in the American Fork 23rd Ward Chapel, 680 North 350 West. A viewing will be held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Anderson & Sons Mortuary, 49 East 200 North, American Fork and Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will be in American Fork Cemetery.