Jaren Rowe Waller

Jaren "Jerry" Rowe Waller, a loving husband, devoted father, and cherished grandfather, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2026, at the age of 89. Born on August 18, 1937, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Jaren was the eldest son of A. Rowe Waller and Elizabeth (Bywater) Waller, both of whom preceded him in death.

Jaren’s life was a testament to the power of love and dedication. On April 12, 1965, he married and was sealed to the love of his life, Tamara Sharp, in the Salt Lake City Temple. Together, they shared 61 years, raising five children who were his pride and joy. They moved to Huntington Beach, California in 1972, where they made their home for 52 years before returning to Salt Lake City.

A proud graduate of Olympus High School (Class of 1955), Jaren pursued higher education at the University of Utah and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Business Administration. His commitment to service was reflected in his time in the Utah National Guard and in his devotion as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jaren’s life was enriched by his passion for the great outdoors and his love of sports. He found immense joy in sailing, skiing, hiking, camping, and hunting, especially when sharing these activities with his children and grandchildren. His adventurous spirit was matched only by his love, warmth, and humor.

Known for his perfectly timed dad jokes, Jaren brought laughter and sweetness into every room. He never met an ice cream flavor he didn't like, a small testament to his zest for life and his ability to find joy in the simplest pleasures. His loving nature, dedication to his family, and hard-working spirit are deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him.

His legacy lives on through his surviving family: his beloved wife Tamara; children Rod (Julie), Denise (David), Byron (Tammi), Michael, and Wendy (Christopher); grandchildren Shane (Ashley), Lauren (Alex), Aimee (Jacob), Austin (Lizzy), Kade, Kathryn (Ian), Mason, Chase, Wyatt, Jaclyn, Chance, Aiden, Landon, London, and Ireland; great-grandchildren Addison, Brynlee, Logan, Olivia, Liam, Dax, Miles, and Wesley; and his younger brother, Craig (Patty).

Jaren’s life was a beautiful journey, filled with love, laughter, and an abundance of cherished memories. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness and joy that will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.

A service to honor Jaren’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on September 29, 2026, at the Country Crossing Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 11122 South Black Hawk Drive, South Jordan, Utah.

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to participate virtually via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/95735249783

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Jaren’s memory to organizations supporting dementia research, including the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org), the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (alzdiscovery.org), or the BrightFocus Foundation Alzheimer’s Disease Research program (brightfocus.org/Alzheimer's), celebrating his generous spirit and unwavering dedication to helping others.