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Robert Thorn Obituary
Bountiful, Utah - Robert Paul Thorn, age 83, passed away on January 2, 2013. He was born March 5, 1929 in Springville, Utah to Paul A. Thorn and Madge Johnson Thorn. He married Norma Brockbank on June 4, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple.
Reared in Springville, Robert graduated cum laude with a BS in business administration from Brigham Young University and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He earned his pilots wings and served on active duty for three years as a commissioned officer in the Air Force. He was president of Thorn Construction Company. An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bob served a mission to South Africa, bishop of a BYU student ward, president of the South Africa Mission (1973-1976), and patriarch of the Bountiful Mueller Park Stake for 18 years. He was instrumental in acquiring the land on which the BYU Jerusalem Center was built. He served as president of BYU Alumni Association and was the honorary consul of South Africa to Utah. He loved good music and was an accomplished organist and pianist. A dynamic and inspiring leader and teacher, he was greatly loved and admired by all who knew him.
Robert is survived by his wife Norma; children Michelle (Michael) Dudley of Chesapeake, Virginia; Camille (Eric) Hansen of Cameron Park, California, and David Thorn of Upland, California; 12 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and sister June Arbon of Camarillo, California. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Marilyn Thorn, and brothers James and Louis Thorn.
Funeral services will be held Tues., Jan 8, 2013 at 11 a.m. in the Mueller Park Stake Center located at 1800 Mueller Park Rd., Bountiful. Friends and family may visit Mon evening Jan 7th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services. Burial will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the missionary fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Condolences may be sent to www.wheelermortuaries.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Robert Thorn
Scott Hoopes
January 13, 2013
President Thorn was truly a great man to those of us who served under him in the South Africa Mission. We looked forward to visits from the AP's because they taught us what he had taught them. We knew the true acolytes because they traveled with small vials of his cologne. From the first bear-hug in the airport as we arrived to each successive bear-hug in our personal intervals we knew that he loved us, and most importantly we knew that he loved the Savior and the missionary work. His love of the land and the people was infectious...his first question to us was often, "when did you last visit a game park, Elder?" And if the answer was "not for quite a while" he arranged for the district or zone to go to the nearest park as soon as possible. He was convinced that if we learned to love the country and the people as he did we would become better and more effective missionaries. His concern for us did not end with the end of our or his mission. How we looked forward to the reunions that occurred yearly for many years to greet our larger South Africa family of missionaries, excited to bring our new brides to our mission father for his approval. You will be missed, President, and how we look forward to the reunion to come. With deepest gratitude, love and condolences to Sister Thorn and the family.
Gordon Ball
January 12, 2013
I will always treasure the memories that I have of President Thorn. I only met him one time as a missionary because he had just arrived in South Africa as mission president just before I came home but he was always interested in how I was doing every time I met him. He will be missed.
January 12, 2013
Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.
Ryan Hansen
January 11, 2013
Words can not express the greatness of our beloved grandfather. To have had his guidence and wisdom in my life from the diaper to adulthood makes me very fortunate. I am proud and honored to have Grandpa bobs blood in my veins. To any elders that would like a copy of the biography email me at [email protected] and with my sister Cari's permission I will e-mail you a copy. Þú verður að eilífu elskaði afa.
Lance and Julie Jacob
January 10, 2013
What a beautiful celebration it was for the life of President Thorn on Tuesday. Whenever we attend funerals for great men or women, the Spirit of the Lord is strong, and the Spirit of the Lord was especially strong for Pres. Thorn. What a great legacy he leaves for us and countless others across this world. We would love to have a digital copy of Pres. Thorn's autobiography written by Cari. We love to collect and read biographies of great men and women, especially ones of those we know and love.
May the Lord's Spirit of peace and comfort be with each of you thoughout the coming months. We love the Thorn Family. From a missionary son and his wife.
Gary Eccles
January 8, 2013
President Thorn was a giant among men. His love, his spiritual influence and his guidance have touched us all.
He was instrumental in helping me form and strengthen my spiritual life. He touched me deeply and by extension his concern and teachings he has touched the life of my children and grand children as well.
Thank you for being such a powerful example of the Savior's love.
God bly met u tot ons veer ontmoet.
David Thomas
January 8, 2013
Sorry I was unable to attend the funeral. What a great man. Hardly a day goes by that I don't think of my mission in South Africa and the influence it has had on my life. I will be forever grateful that I was able to serve with President Thorn. It changed my life.
Mike Petersen
January 8, 2013
President Thorn had a huge impact on my life as a missionary and continues to this day. We'll miss you!
Kurt Evans
January 7, 2013
Pres. Thorn's positive impact on me is everlasting. He loved to say peanut butter cookie in Afrikaans (grondgroijtkie botter beskuijtkie). He was also instrumental in alleviating the missionary quota in South Africa and he introduced The Spoken Word to fledgling South African television. He was sophisticated, charismatic, cultured, good-humored, and socially and politically astute. He was as pure in heart as Jesus.
Graham Ek
January 7, 2013
Pres Thorn was well loved by all South Africans who knew him as he served us faithfully. R I P
January 6, 2013
President Thorn was an inspiration to us throughout our lives, not just during our two years together in South Africa. Larry and Jean Webster
January 6, 2013
Well Bob, another South African elder moves on. bless you and Norma. Elder Rockwood.
Dick Leatham
January 6, 2013
An amazing man, a wonderful mission president, an incredible influence in my lfe.
Matt & Heather Dudley
January 6, 2013
Grandpa Bob is a wonderful man. We are grateful for his legacy of faith. We love him and miss him, but we are so happy for him to be well again in heaven.
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