David Joseph Gladden

Our amazing husband, father, patriarch, David Joseph Gladden, passed away at the age of 83. David was born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 14, 1942. He died on January 30, 2026. He married the love of his life, Karen Joyce Bevan, on June 15, 1961, in the Salt Lake Temple.

He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions including Bishop’s Counselor, High Counselor, Young Adult callings (MIA), Scout Master and more. He loved the Lord.

He lived most of his childhood in TOD park in Tooele, Utah. He loved to swim and won many awards in the butterfly stroke. He loved working in the wood and auto shops in high school. He loved to travel, fish and anything mechanical. He graduated from Tooele High in 1960. He received the White Buffalo Award upon graduation.

He attended Utah State University and earned his Bachelor of Science as a Mechanical Engineer in 1965. He always said, “I’m an engineer!” received his Master of Science in Design Engineering in 1970 from Utah State University.

David and Karen’s adventures started with a move to Wichita, Kansas to work for Coleman Outdoor Products. He designed several products that are now patented. They moved to Dearborn, Michigan to work for Ford Motor Company. They returned to Utah in 1979 and he finished his career at Dugway Proving Grounds.

David is survived by his wife, Karen, a sister, Ann Terry (Chuck), as well as all his children: Shaun (Amy), Mary Kaye (Dale), Rena (Harold), Wayne (Gaylene), Leah (Mark), Roy (Angel), and Rosetta (Ben). He has 27 grandchildren and 10.75 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, E.O. and Ena Gladden and his sister, Iris Brown.

There will be a viewing on Friday, February 6, 2026, starting at 10 a.m. at the Valley View Memorial, 4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah. The funeral following the viewing will be at 11 a.m. at the same address. Interment will be at the Tooele Cemetery in Tooele, Utah.