Dellane Gordon Jessop

Mr. Dellane Gordon Jessop succumbed to complications with Parkinson's and Prostrate Cancer on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 12:15 p.m. surrounded by his wife and two daughters. Soon he followed his Savior's light and entered a glorious new dimension of Eternal Life and Love in God's Kingdom. Where he was greeted by beloved family members and friends who celebrated his arrival with perfect joy.
Dellane is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Diane Jensen Jessop. He reminded her regularly that she was "his Angel". He is survived by his loving younger brother and sister and their spouses: Terry and Jackie Jessop and DeeAnn J. and Steven Fisher. In addition, Dellane is survived by his four bright and beautiful children and their spouses who are all thriving: Melanie and Bill Boyd, Kelly Wade and Michelle Jessop, Jaromy Dellane and Mishelle Jessop, and DelAnne Valaine and Ryan Haslam. Finally, he is also survived by six living grandchildren (Nick, Brady, Kira, Ty, Alex, and Preslee) plus 3 great grands: (Ellie, Killian Dean, and Oaklee) His youngest son, Christopher Wood Jessop, died in 2007, with his two little sweethearts, James, four and Mariah, three.
Dellane was born on November 4, 1941, in Logan, Utah to Dowayne Delmont Jessop and Valaine Anna Herzog. He grew up in Clearfield, Utah where he was a joy to his family. As a baby, his mother wouldn't let his dad give him a haircut, so he was beautiful and looked like a girl with his dark, naturally curly hair. He was a "charmer" with smarts and personality plus and he worked his way into the hearts of his grandparents, Dowayne Neor and Pearl Jessop and Henry and Olga Herzog plus young aunts and uncles who doted on him as their "favorite."
Dellane was an exceptional man, a family man of faith who made sure his children went to Church and had Family Home Evening every week, providing them with a good Christian background. He was beloved by his wife and children plus many who met him! He had a good-natured humor, a kind and friendly manner, and an easy-going personality. People loved the way Dellane smiled while he talked, sincerely complimented people, made others feel comfortable in his presence, and put their needs before his own. HE NEVER, EVER COMPLAINED, and he chose to nurture a positive outlook on life. He also loved to tell jokes and most everyone who knew him also knew about "Bill and Edna and the motto: Five Dollars is Five Dollars!"
Dellane had a variety of jobs throughout his youth, but the worst one was working on his Grandpa Dowayne's farm in Idaho, weeding, hoeing and harvesting sugar beets! This was the most hated job of his life! It took an entire hot day just to weed one row! When it was time to go, he said to himself: I'M NEVER COMING BACK! BUT, HE ALWAYS DID! He loved his grandparents and gladly volunteered to help churn the homemade ice-cream with them and ride Uncle Dennis' horse named Penny. Dellane always said his favorite job was playing trombone in the 42nd Army band.
Dellane enjoyed a variety of activities in his youth. He played football and was so proud to wear his letterman jacket! He started piano lessons at age eight from a teacher named Mrs. Blood who also taught him the organ. She taught chords and "playing by ear," and also stressed note reading, theory and technique. By the time Dellane was fifteen, it was obvious he had a talent for writing music. "Dreams," which was his first original composition.
When he was seventeen, he organized his own dance band named The Mad Hatters. He played trombone and piano. Two friends played saxophones and another friend a string base. He hired a cute girl to be the vocalist and to motivate the guys to practice regularly. The band became very successful with stake dances but had to quit when members were called on LDS missions.
As a teenager, Dellane didn't have the funds to buy a new or even a used car, so he fixed up an old Model T Ford and was very proud of it! He was always working on his car out on the front lawn with Don Ames and his friends. They liked his Model T and often begged to help him tinker with repairs or ride with him in the car up to the mountains or for a picnic. Later, he worked several jobs so he could buy his first new car: a robin egg blue Buick Special. He saved money to be a missionary and was called to called to a French-East mission in 1962.
He quickly impressed his mission leader with his musical talent and outgoing personality. The mission leader ordered all musical missionaries into Dellane's district where he supervised them in preparing concerts and proselyting. He worked an amazing ninety hours a week: 45 hours with music and proselyting; another 45 hours tracking, teaching and doing regular missionary work.
He proved himself an amazing, inspirational leader to the missionaries who lived in his Swiss Chalet. He learned that publishing companies in France and nearby countries would only copy The Book of Mormon if the elders ordered 30,000 books at a time. So Dellane said to all the elders under his leadership, "Give me your rent money now!" And they complied! "If you want to live here next month," he reminded the young men, "you'd better get busy selling Books of Mormon now!" Those French-East missionaries ended up selling 60,000 copies.
While Dellane was attending BYU, he took a French class with Diane's cousin Carolyn. She lined him up for a blind date and when he first saw Diane on the back porch with her blond hair and pretty smile, he knew she was going to be his wife. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 7, 1966. He wrote a beautiful song for his bride called "Expression of Love" and played it for her on the grand piano during the wedding party's luncheon at Hotel Utah.
Dellane graduated early from Brigham Young University in 1967 in music theory and French after being called to military service and basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He graduated at the top of his class in cooking and target shooting and participated in monthly training exercises and camping. He joined the 47th Army Band and spent a lot of time playing his trombone. He was always very patriotic, and happy to serve his country in any way he could. When he became director of the West Jordan City Band, he prepared the band to play several patriotic songs to honor the soldiers who marched across the auditorium displaying the United States flag while any veterans in attendance were honored to the music.
Dellane had a big family of three boys and two girls. The children's favorite activity with their beloved dad was "Wrestling!" Sometimes even Mom joined in the fun, and Dellane trapped all six of them in his powerful clutches. The family's laughter echoed through the rooms and taught them... HAPPINESS!
Dellane's and Diane recognized their children's musical abilities, and The Jessop Family Singers was born. Dellane supervised morning rehearsals. They sang together for six years with uplifting performances across multiple states.
Dellane worked as a music teacher, K-12 for twelve years in Kansas, Wyoming and Utah where he always went the extra mile and taught his students private lessons for free! After moving to Utah, he changed his career and trained to become a computer operator, working for the Utah State Data Center until he retired thirty-eight years later.
In his spare time Dellane played his trombone in the West Jordan Symphony and The Jazz Band. He also volunteered to conduct The West Jordan City Band and directed it for twenty-three years, training members with warm-up exercises and music including selections from well-known musicals, current popular hits of today, holiday music, and even a Led Zeplin medley!. Through the years he also attended Arts Council regularly and procured many musical instruments for West Jordan. At his last few concerts, he announced, "My dream has been to conduct a big, wonderful band like you. Thank you for making my dream come true!"
After Dellane retired, he and his wife, Diane were asked to work at the BeeHive Home in West Jordan on Sundays and provide all the music for the meetings. The couple served for two years, missing their own ward's Sacrament Meetings. They felt like they were on a mini mission together providing the seniors with music.
Dellane was always willing to serve and accept a church calling and served in many important positions including two years as President of the Hiawatha Branch in Missouri, which was seventy-six miles round trip from their home in Seneca, Kansas. He was also a scout leader, music director, choir leader, pianist and was a faithful home teacher.
Towards the end of his life, Dellane retained his sense of humor, his testimony and positive outlook. Whatever the circumstances, if someone asked Dellane, "How are you today?" he'd say, "GREAT!"
Dellane lived by the following mottos: "Keep smiling!" and "Count your blessings... with an attitude of gratitude!"
Our family is so grateful to the staff at Ashford Assisted Living and Memory Care in Draper and for the staff at First Choice Home Health and Hospice who all took such good care of him.
A viewing will be held at The LDS chapel 2901 West 9000 South, West Jordan, Utah 84088 on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 11:30-12:45 pm. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. Interment to follow services at the West Jordan Cemetery 7925 S. 1300 W., West Jordan, Utah
To honor the memory of Dellane Jessop - In Lieu of flowers, please make a gift donation to the Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/QCHXXS9UJKN2L
We will be streaming the funeral service live and a link will be available by 11a.m. the day of the funeral.
LIVE STREAM FOR DELLANE CELEBRATION OF LIFE https://youtube.com/live/sivIuujtKwA