Joanne Soderborg

Joanne Kjar Brown Soderborg, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, on July 14, 2023 peacefully passed away at her home in West Jordan, Utah.
Joanne was born on August 29, 1945 in Washington, DC, the third of Victor L. Brown and Lois Ashton Kjar's five children. As a child, Joanne lived near Chicago, then Denver, then near Chicago again, before the family finally settled in the Millcreek area of Salt Lake City. It was in Millcreek that Joanne graduated from Olympus High School and more importantly met the man who would become her eternal companion, Steven Taylor Soderborg. After getting married, Joanne and Steve quickly started their family and Joanne as a young mother earned her degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University. The young Soderborg family settled in Murray where Joanne looked after their children. A lifelong educator, Joanne eventually joined the faculty of McMillan Elementary School. For 25 years, Joanne's kind demeanor and seemingly boundless patience blessed the lives of hundreds of children as she taught grades 1-3.
Joanne was dedicated to serving others. Music was a significant part of Joanne's service and she shared her musical talents by playing the piano and organ for church services, conducting church choirs and arranging musical programs, and accompanying countless others for their musical presentations. In retirement, Joanne and Steve demonstrated their love for Jesus Christ first by serving a mission to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Joanne's love for the House of the Lord was demonstrated by her almost 20 years of service in the temple that was only curtailed when her health started to fail.
Joanne was preceded in death by her parents Victor and Lois, her son Michael, two grandchildren Steven Taylor Soderborg, III and Jenessa Helsten, and her sisters-in-law Janice Bradford Brown and Peggy Henrickson Brown. Joanne is survived by her husband Steven and their children Taylor (Rhonda) Soderborg of El Paso, Texas; Jana (Brett) Helsten of Washington Terrace, Utah; Jonathan (Sandra) Soderborg of West Palm Beach, Florida; and Brent (Mali) Soderborg of Bangkok, Thailand; her siblings Victor Brown, Gary Brown, Patricia Glade, and Stephen Brown; 21 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A viewing will be held Thursday, July 20 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home (1007 W. 10400 S., South Jordan, Utah). There will also be a viewing Friday, July 21 from 9:30-10:30 AM at the Heritage 12th Ward (7336 S. 3200 W., West Jordan, Utah). The funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM. The service can be viewed above. Joanne will be interred at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Millcreek.
Joanne's family extends heartfelt thanks to the doctors and nurses from IMC Medical Center, Legacy Rehabilitation Center, Canyons Hospice, and the many friends and family members who helped take care of her.