Guenter George Nygard passed away Saturday, July 17, 2021 in Layton, Utah. Born in Freiheit, Germany on January 28, 1934 to Otto Nygard and Hilde Lehmann Nygard, George was a child in war-ravaged Germany during WWII. After the war, his family was sponsored by an Idaho family to emigrate to the United States, arriving in New York Harbor on Christmas Eve, 1951 on the way to their new home in Utah. George served in the US Army as a German interpreter for officers in Germany during the Korean war period. As a young man in Germany, George had a printing apprenticeship, which served him well in America, leading to an outstanding career in the repair and operation of printing presses through a period of tremendous industry change as the largely mechanical devices of the past evolved into high-tech electromechanical wonders. George was known for his integrity, precision, and strong work ethic.
A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, George served as a temple worker and family history missionary, labored long hours indexing family records, and as a driver for Meals on Wheels among many other things. Service gave him joy and purpose. George was also an avid painter and artisan, winning the blue ribbon at the county fair for his artwork, Swedish weaving, and needlework. He could fix anything and everything, and liked to keep a garden.
A beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, George is survived by his wife, Janis Dudley Nygard, his son Michael Nygard (Deena), his daughter Lori Pettit (Rick), his brother Richard Nygard (Shirley), 10 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife D’On Jack, two sons, Steven and Greg Nygard, and Grandson Stephen Pettit. George will be interred at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery in Millcreek, Utah.
