Joseph Vincent Yenchik

In the early morning of June 6, 2022, Joseph Vincent Yenchik returned to the presence of his Heavenly Parents and his earthly parents and siblings. Our faithful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather knew he had important work to do on the other side of the veil and passed with a deep sense of peace and joy.

Vince, as he was known throughout his childhood, was born to Joseph Vincent Yenchik and Edith May Groves Yenchik on May 9, 1937 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Most of his growing-up years were spent in Davis County, and he spoke with great fondness of the time spent in his father’s grocery store and of his sweet mother’s cooking and tender care. It is from his good parents that he inherited two of the traits we love best in him--an unfailing willingness to work hard and to provide for his family, and a genuinely and deeply tender heart. When Vince was 7 years old, his brother Steve was born, followed a year later by his sister Margaret (Marty).

Young Vince was athletic, handsome, and adventurous, and he spent time in his youth modeling for a local menswear store, Clay’s Menswear. Vince was among the first classes to attend Bountiful High School, where he was the student body president. After high school, one of his favorite pastimes was racing his 55 Holiday Supersport Oldsmobile at Bonneville Raceway, where he even won a trophy at the National Hot Rod Association meet.

Friday the 13th is always a day of good luck in the Yenchik household because on Friday the 13th of September 1957, Joe married his beautiful Norwegian sweetheart, Brit Annie Wenche Hauan, for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Their marriage enriched his life with Norske people, culture, traditions, and foods he learned to love as his own, but which he could also never learn to pronounce properly. Joe did everything within his power to love and care for Brit in every way throughout their nearly 65 years of marriage, and we know he continues on in his watchful care over her today. Joe and Brit were blessed with four children whom they love and of whom they are so proud.

During his young married years, Joe enlisted for an eight-year service in the United States Navy Reserves. Always determined to be a good provider, Joe worked tirelessly throughout his life, sometimes working as many as three or four jobs at a time. Most of his career was spent at L3 Communications, with many years also spent as a devoted and skilled teacher at Salt Lake Community College.

More important than his earthly work was his spiritual service. Joe is a devoted disciple of his Savior Jesus Christ, and his testimony showed in his dedicated service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. His ministering was thoughtful, loving, and sincere. Long after official callings of stewardship ended, Brit and Joe kept a watchful eye for the widowed and lonely. He touched the lives of innumerable people as he served in callings including Priest Quorum advisor, stake missionary, branch presidency member, high councilor, and bishop.

Joe was the very best papa. His grandkids loved to spend time in his garage woodshop, vacuuming up sawdust and watching him turn blocks of wood into beautiful decorations that Mormor and the tantes could paint and which still adorn our homes today. Joe is also well known for bringing decades of joy with red-suited, jolly visits to neighbor and family homes each year.

Joe is preceded in death by his mother, father, brother, and sister. He is survived by his wife, Brit; his four children, Mark (Carolyn), Gary (Annette), Ann Marie (Korrey) and Nancy Kay; fifteen grandchildren; and seventeen great-grandchildren. We are so grateful for his example, love, steadiness, faith, and twinkly smile. While we will miss his presence here, we know we will see him again.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 6-8pm at the LDS Winder Stake Center, 4366 South 1500 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. Funeral services will take place at the same location on Friday, June 17, 2022 at 1:00pm with a viewing prior to the service from 12:00-12:45pm. Interment will take place at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Cemetery following the service.