John Richard "Dick" Thunell

John Richard Thunell

John Richard Thunell, 90, peacefully left this mortal existence on Saturday, April 3, 2010. Dick was born on October 13, 1919, in Salt Lake City, the third child of seven born to Isaac Peter Thunell and Hildegard Valentina Olson. He grew up in Salt Lake City and Holladay, and graduated from Granite High School and Stevens Heninger Business College.
Dick was drafted into the army during World War II, and was eventually sent to Officer Candidate School. He commanded a quartermaster group in the Philippines and New Guinea, supplying fuel to troops. Before being shipped overseas, Dick courted and married Nedra Larsen, of Hyrum, in the Logan Temple on September 18, 1944. After the war, Dick joined the Army Reserve, and during this career commanded the 96th Quartermaster Corps in Logan for several years. He eventually retired from the Army Reserve in 1979 with the rank of full colonel.
Dick was employed by the Public Health Service in Logan, and eventually went to work as a management analyst at the Defense Depot in Ogden. He commuted to Ogden for 32 years, from his home in River Heights. When he retired from the DDO, Dick took up traveling with Nedra, tending to a large garden, keeping the yard in shape under Nedra’s watchful eye, daily trips to town, “retirement breakfasts” with Ralph Olson, and racquetball with Fred Stettler (who nicknamed him ‘lightning’). Dick continued playing racquetball into his late 70’s. One of Dick’s favorite places to visit was Hawaii, which he visited several times with Nedra and close friends. Dick was also famous with friends and family for his Spanish rice and Mexican “stacks.” He was always working to perfect these recipes.
Dick served in numerous church callings including Mount Logan Stake mission president, Providence Stake financial clerk and high councilor, where he created the “perfect” high council speaking schedule. Dick was a student of the scriptures, and especially loved reading the Book of Mormon, and studying about its people. He had a firm testimony of Jesus Christ, and of the truthfulness of the gospel, and sought to live by its principles. Dick spent nine years working in the Logan Temple, and enjoying tacos with his fellow temple workers after their Tuesday night shifts.
One of Dick’s great loves was cars. He enjoyed caring for his cars and keeping them in immaculate condition. He had a long string of cars from his first Model A, when he was a young man, to his last, a beloved Lincoln Continental. For the past ten years Dick enjoyed day trips in his gray-blue Lincoln Continental, and having lunch with friends. A fall resulting in a broken hip and shoulder put an end to his driving. His desire until he died was to again drive in his Lincoln and go see places.
Dick and Nedra had one son, Randall, who lives in River Heights with his family. They enjoyed visiting him multiple times, while he was in graduate school in Oregon, and were overjoyed when he married Cathie Holt and gave them two beautiful granddaughters, Lindsay and Kelcie. Dick and Nedra enjoyed interacting with these long-awaited granddaughters. Dick and Nedra celebrated 55 years of marriage together, before Nedra’s death in 1999.
Dick is survived by his son Randall, daughter-in-law Cathie, two granddaughters Lindsay and Kelcie, and one sister Mildred Weed, of West Valley. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Raymond (Florence) Thunell and Roland (Marie) Thunell, and sisters, Magda (Sverre) Olauson, Melva (Wayne) Omer, and Mary (Ken) Hardy.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, April 9, 2010 at the River Heights Stake Center (750 S. 600 E.). A viewing will be held on Thursday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 PM at the Allen-Hall Mortuary (34 East Center in Logan) and prior to services at the church on Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Interment will be in the Providence Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net