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John Thomas Balle – July 7, 1949-March 27, 2022

On March 27, 2022, heaven welcomed home one of its great and faithful servants. John will be remembered by family and friends as a man of many, many words; someone who always had a story to tell or a poem to recite. A man who was devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ, John spent his life on a journey to learn and become a true disciple of the Lord. Over his lifetime, John had many talents, ranging from a self-proclaimed professional marble player to the creator of countless "Cowboy Poetry" verses. John will be dearly missed by all those who had the opportunity to know and love the man he became.

John was born on July 7, 1949 in Richfield, Utah to Harry Reed and Berniece Hacking Balle. John was the youngest of five children; Harry, Karleen, Mayleen and James. As a child, John grew up in East Carbon City, Utah, and spent his summers in Glenwood, Utah. John was an incredible athlete as a youth. He was an all-state discus thrower in high school and competed in other sports such as wrestling, baseball, and football. A devastating knee injury, his senior year, would eventually end his sporting career. John graduated second in his class from Carbon High School in 1967. To his chagrin, his twin brother, James, claimed the valedictorian spot.

John graduated with honors from the College of Eastern Utah with an Associates of Science Degree. He would later serve a mission in the Gulf States for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While serving his mission, he would meet his future wife, a fellow missionary, Paulette Riggs Bankhead. John and Paulette married on February 11, 1972 in the Logan Utah Temple. In 1978, John and Paulette built their home in Cedar Fort, Utah. This small community would be where they would raise their seven daughters. John even spent one term serving as the Cedar Fort Mayor, after becoming a write-in candidate. John spent over 30 years working in residential home painting, owning his own company, JB Painting. Eventually, his youngest daughter, Amanda, would become his partner, working side by side to get the work done.

In 1991, John lost his wife, Paulette in a vehicle accident. Just over a year later, John would be reunited with a childhood friend, Elizabeth Anne Warner Wilson. John and Elizabeth married December 23, 1992, which was later solemnized in the Jordan River Temple in June 1994. John and Elizabeth would eventually leave Cedar Fort to finally settle in Salem, Utah. Although John was retired by this time, he found joy in serving as a temple worker in the Payson Utah Temple for several years.

John is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; daughters Alisha (Jeremy) Hunter, Lehi, Utah; Amber Balle, Prescott Valley, Arizona; Amie (Jeff) Houghton, Lehi, Utah; Ashlee (Rick) Mangum, Chino Valley, Arizona; Andrea (Donnie) Hewes, California City, California; Anjalee Balle (Scott McMullin), Eagle Mountain, Utah; Amanda Balle, Pleasant Grove, Utah; son Aaron Wilson, Salt Lake City, Utah; 17 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and sister Mayleen (David) Hendricksen, Charleston, Utah. John is preceded in death by his wife, Paulette; parents Harry Reed, Sr. and Berniece; brothers Harry Reed, Jr., James; and sister Karleen.

Funeral services will be 11:00am, Saturday, April 2, 2022 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Knoll Park Building, 160 S. 460 W., Salem Utah. A viewing will be held from 9:30-10:30am prior to the funeral. Graveside services will be at the Cedar Fort Cemetery at 1:30pm, located at 100 W. 200 S., Cedar Fort. For anyone who would like to attend via Zoom, please contact Amie Houghton, amilyn1985@hotmail.com for the online link to the funeral services.