Joan Crebs Carlson

This tiny lady was born 93 years ago to Robert and Vera Crebs.

When Joan was thirteen she made a decision to, “go to church and make new friends. That decision changed my life!” This simple decision impacted the lives of her brother and parents and, indeed, all of her posterity. She was an influential leader and teacher in her wards and stakes and on their mission to the Independence Missouri Visitors Center and Kansas City inner city. We will praise her forever for living the gospel, loving God and showing us how to serve Him and others.

At his mother’s invitation, Roy started dated Joan. It did not take long for them to become close friends and after dating for seven months, they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. Joan and Roy were a happy, outgoing couple, enjoying each other’s company and being with family and friends. Their love for each other grew throughout their 63 years of marriage – and will continue to grow for eternity.

Joan’s gift of organization was useful in her many jobs as bookkeeper, clerk and secretary in elementary schools and government offices. She was a dedicated employee, but always felt her greatest work and joy was with her family and within her home. Family was so important that she did not want to lose or forget the family’s stories and memories. She blessed her family by recording our history in photo albums for nearly 40 years.

Joan had a great love for her ancestors. Her father did not know his birth year, which she was able to find. She found extensive records of her Swiss and English ancestors back to the 1700s, which took many, many years. We are sure she is happily meeting her family now. The culmination of this service to her ancestors was traveling to Europe to see where they had lived. She traveled through three countries in two weeks, walking many miles daily and remained excited, energetic and cheerful…..at age 79. What joy!

She and Roy prepared Monday night dinners for all of her grandchildren in Provo for 17 years. She loved having them visit and they were able to get to know each other. During those same years she lovingly cared for her parents and later for her dear husband.

Joan loved the beach, BYU sports, waterskiing, swing dancing, sewing and quilting, camping with their trailer, enjoying nature, and traveling to see family.

Joan ‘s life was given to Roy, her family and Heavenly Father. Her family is grateful for her steadfastness, sense of humor, and decision to be happy and grateful no matter what happened.

She is survived by four children: Susan (Arnel) Brown, Nancy (Bert) Brinton, Robert (Gaynelle) Carlson, and Leanne (Clay) Riding, 21 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter.

Among those delighted to welcome her home are her parents Vera and Bob Crebs, her brother Richard Crebs, her grandson Chris Carlson, two great grandsons, Liam Fairbanks and Ian Crabtree, and Roy’s mother whom Joan dearly loved, Caroline Carlson.

Joan’s graveside service will be held Friday, January 29, at 12:00 pm at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park & Mortuary (3401 Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106). Due to covid the graveside service will be short and we request masks be worn and social distancing practiced. The service will be recorded and available for on demand viewing at www.facebook.com/wasatchlawnmemorial.

Condolences can be expressed at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary www.wasatchlawn.com.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Humanitarian Service.

We want to thank her loving caregivers at Beehive Homes of Gilbert and the Canyon Home Care and Hospice for their great love, kindness and service to mom.