Don Peter Lassig

Don Peter Lassig
"The Gardener"
On Sunday morning, October 25, 2015, our husband, father, grandfather, brother and dear friend, Peter Lassig, left his work on earth to labor in the gardens of his Maker. The eldest of nine children, he was born June 4, 1938 to Amalia Marie Tuck and Don Garry Lassig in Salt Lake City, Utah. Peter attended East High School & Olympus High School, graduating in 1956. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served in the Northern Far East Mission, Japan (1958-61) and later as a service missionary, managing the gardens of the Mormon Pavilion at the New York World's Fair (1965-1966). He received a bachelor's degree in ornamental horticulture and field botany from BYU in 1967, and later completed three years of graduate school in landscape architecture at Utah State University. He met Sylvia Butler while attending BYU and they were married in the Manti Temple March 10, 1965. Together, they had eight children. Following Sylvia's death, Peter married Janet Boyer McMaster in the Salt Lake Temple on September 7, 1991.
Peter was the Gardener of Temple Square. He worked the last thirty-three years of his career designing and managing the gardens and Christmas lights of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. In all, he devoted forty-five years of his life to beautifying the temple grounds. For him, gardens were a symphony of color, and he the conductor. In his gardens, as in his life, he wanted only to call attention to the Creator. He was content to be called "the gardener."
A highlight of his career was the "February Design Course" he developed to mentor hundreds of Temple Square volunteers, and others interested in garden design. Peter also led the restoration of the Sacred Grove and the landscaping of Adam-ondi-Ahman. As a gift to the community, he filled his neighborhood with trees and created the landscape design for the Day-Riverside Library.
Peter loved to serve and was anxiously engaged in good causes throughout his life. He reached out to the disadvantaged and those in need. He faithfully served in many church capacities, notably as a dedicated Scout Master for more than fifteen years and later as a Bishop. He was a Wood Badge Course Director and loved the scouting program. In recognition of his devotion to scouting, he was awarded the Silver Beaver.
Peter was preceded in death by his "darling" Syl in 1991, and is survived by his "favorite flower," his beloved wife, Janet, and children, Elise (Matthew) Stanley, John (Michelle Steed) Lassig, Jennifer (Christopher) Staniforth, Peter II (Veronica) Lassig, Rachel (Michael) Wertheimer, Nathan Lassig, Clarissa (Tony) Anderson, Aaron (Katie) Lassig, Melanie Bullock, John McMaster, Rob (Allison) McMaster, Paul (Tina) McMaster, Laura (Scott) Niederhauser. He was a much-loved "Opa" to 36 cherished grandchildren. His brothers & sisters include: Hal (deceased), Julie, Theo, Ruth, Aleta (deceased), Mary, Paul & Molly Anne.
Funeral services will be held Monday, November 2, 2015 at 12:00 PM at the Rose Park Stake Center, 760 North 1200 West, Salt Lake City. Viewings will be held Sunday, November 1, 2015 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM and Monday from 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM at the church, prior to services. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah.
We express our deepest gratitude to Rudy and Jamie from Harmony Hospice for their loving care.