Joseph Claire Jorgensen

Joseph Claire Jorgensen, 84, of Lewiston, Utah, passed peacefully away from this life on October 1, 2015 after a prolonged decline in health.

Claire was born on March 15, 1931 in Smithfield, Utah, the third of nine children born to Alvaretta and Milton Jorgensen. He loved his childhood growing up on the farm in Lewiston, Utah and had many happy memories with his siblings and friends there. He graduated from North Cache High School in 1950 followed by service in the U.S. Army and a successful mission to the Great Lakes Mission. He attended Utah Agricultural College before accepting a job to return to his hometown of Lewiston as a rural mail carrier, a job he loved until his retirement after 35 years. He loved this job and getting to know everyone in town, but his true love was farming. He always had crops and fields to care for, cattle to raise, a large and plentiful garden, apple trees, raspberry bushes, and a large lawn. He loved the physical labor and rewards that came with these activities.

He married the love of his life and eternal companion, Diane Van Orden, on March 9, 1956. Claire and Diane always wanted a large family and, no matter how many children they had, he always wanted “just one more” child. They were blessed with eight children and his family was Claire’s greatest pride. He worked hard to provide, care for, and teach them all the important things in life, most importantly, his testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.

He was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and had a strong testimony of the Gospel. He loved discussing doctrinal issues, teaching the Gospel, and sharing his testimony with others. He served faithfully as a home teacher, missionary (with missions to the Great Lakes mission as a young man and as a senior missionary with Diane to Honduras and Ohio), Sunday school teacher, and bishop, amongst others. He prayed every day of his life and, at the end of his life, said, “Every one of my prayers has been answered.”

Claire was loved for his witty humor, long-winded answers, adventurous spirit, and love for all people. He had an ability to converse and connect with anyone and considered all of us to be his brothers and sisters. He was a kind and loving man who loved to see people laugh and smile.

We will miss him dearly, but are happy for the knowledge that we will see him again.

Claire is survived by his loving wife, Diane, and 8 children, Josie (Jay) Webb of Pleasant View, Jay (Lucy) Jorgensen of Brigham City, Van (Suzy) Jorgensen of Lewiston, Jill (Jim) Blotter of Hyde Park, Joe (Denise) Jorgensen of Pleasant View, Jared Jorgensen of Lewiston, Julie (Clark “Bear”) Nielsen of Boise, and Janie (Daniel) Ward of Sandy. He is survived by twenty-one grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, 3 brothers, and 5 sisters.

A viewing will be held Friday, October 9, 2015 from 6-8 pm and Saturday, October 10, from 10:30-11:30 am at the Lewiston 3rd Ward Church Building, 16 South Main St, Lewiston, UT.

Funeral services will be Saturday, October 10 at 12:00 pm at the church with interment at Lewiston Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net