Josephene Hanson Gedge

Josephene Hanson Gedge was born Oct 6, 1937 to Roy David and Johanna Magdalena “Martha” Wolf Hanson just 6 minutes after her identical twin Marlene. Jo passed away peacefully at home on June 30, 2020 surrounded by loving family.

Jo grew up in Granger, Utah where she attended Monroe school, Valley Junior High, and Cyprus High school. She was very involved in her community and maintained those relationships and friendships throughout her life.

Jo loved to serve others. It all started when she and her twin sister went to welfare square to help with a canning assignment. They weren’t quite 14 yet (the required age) but no one else was available to go so off they went and had such fun she continued looking for ways to serve others throughout her life. She served a full time two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Central America, and upon returning home she served part time with her twin sister in the Salt Lake Valley Regional Mission (Spanish speaking) for 2 ½ years. Jo worked as an executive secretary for many years at Beneficial Life Insurance Company to earn money to pay for her mission and college. She studied Elementary Education and Spanish at BYU for 3 ½ years.

Jo married DeVel Gedge in the Salt Lake Temple on April 14, 1972 and together they raised their family in Holladay, Utah.

She has served in many callings for the Church including the Relief Society, Young Women’s, and Primary organizations at both ward and stake levels, and as secretary to several bishops, branch presidents, and a general authority. Jo loved serving in the Relief Society at the Highland Care Center branch for 11 years and truly missed those associations when she was released. She spent many hours over the years serving in PTA, as an election judge, and as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society. Jo has been to girls’ camp as a leader more than 18 times since 1957, and especially enjoyed her trip to Havasupai with the young women.

In 2002 someone told Jo that sometimes babies in Taiwan were sent home wrapped in newspaper because the people were so poor. Jo was an excellent seamstress, so she went to the humanitarian center and got a pattern and then made a goal to sew 10 sets of nightgowns, booties, and blankets every week to keep the babies around the world warm. She continued this for 10 years until the church discovered it wasn’t cost effective to pay to ship the items around the world. In total Jo made and donated 1,072 newborn gowns, 1,008 pairs of booties, 421 fleece baby blankets, 498 T-shirt dresses, and 50 doll blankets.

Jo loved to attend the temple and has done temple work in 57 different temples around the world. After DeVel retired they attended the temple every single week for 23 years! She was well known for her beautiful gardens, and her flower arranging skills won many blue ribbons at the Salt Lake County and Utah State fairs. She was always willing to use her skills to serve others, and many have been the recipient of her beautiful flower arrangements or been blessed by her sewing skills. Many alterations have been made, dresses have been sewn, hems have been adjusted and all with a cheerful smile. Jo was never happier than when serving others. Jo loved the quote by President Thomas S. Monson “Fill your mind with truth, fill your hearts with love, fill your lives with service.” And she certainly did!

Even during her trial of cancer, she looked for ways to serve and lift others. When she spent Easter in the hospital all alone due to the pandemic, she shared the treats her niece sent her with all the staff expressing gratitude to them for serving her and being away from their families on a holiday. Jo never complained of pain and was writing thank you notes from her bed right up to the end of her life.

She is survived by her husband DeVel, her sons Paul and Roy (Susan), her grandchildren Sagan and JulieJo, and her brothers Harold (Fern) Hanson and Wayne Hanson. Preceded in death by sisters Grace and Marlene, and brothers Melvin and Kenneth.

Graveside funeral services will be held Friday, July 3 at 9:00 a.m. at Wasatch Lawn. Please observe social distance guidelines and wear masks as appropriate.