Joseph Comp

Joseph Leonard "Joe" Comp Jr., age 96, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2025, in Cedar City, Utah. He was born on September 12, 1928, in Winterset, Iowa, to Joseph Leonard Comp and Rutha Edythe Mathews, the only child of this devoted couple. His remarkable life journey was marked by academic excellence, a devotion to education, and a passion for family and the natural world.
Joe's early years were spent in Winterset, where he graduated from Winterset High School before attending Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. There, he earned a Master's degree in Chemistry with a minor in Mathematics. Driven by a thirst for knowledge, Joe went on to earn his doctoral degree in Chemistry from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he conducted pioneering research on the dangers of smoking.
In his professional career, Joe made significant contributions both in the lab and the classroom. From 1957 to 1961, he worked as a research chemist at Monsanto Chemical Company in Texas City, Texas. His passion for teaching led him to Southwest Texas State College (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Texas, where he taught from 1961 to 1963. In 1963, he took a sabbatical to complete postdoctoral research at the University of Arizona in Tucson. He then returned to Texas to teach for one more year. In 1965, Joe accepted a position at College of Southern Utah (CSU) (now Southern Utah University (SUU)), where he served as a beloved and respected professor of chemistry until his retirement in 1989. During his tenure, Joe's impact on the college and the community was profound. He not only educated generations of students but also established and managed the Water Lab that tested water samples from across southern Utah, ensuring the health and safety of countless families and communities. He also established a summer organic chemistry class where a rigorous full year of required chemistry for medical students could be completed in just one summer. This became very popular and was attended by students from across the United States. Joe also founded the college's Science Fair, an event that has grown into a much-anticipated annual tradition. His dedication to nurturing young scientific talent has left a lasting legacy in the field of science education.
After retiring, Joe continued to share his knowledge and love for the breathtaking landscapes of southern Utah by working as a tour guide, offering visitors a glimpse into the region's natural beauty. A lifelong lover of nature and history, Joe spent many hours bird watching and cultivating his garden. He also enjoyed hiking all the trails and back country of southern Utah and its national parks. His passion for genealogy led him to spend countless hours researching his family's lineage, uncovering thousands of names and stories of his ancestors, which he eagerly shared with his children and grandchildren.
Joe's first marriage to Anita Newton on November 27, 1954, brought them four children (Joey, Shannon, Rochelle, René). He later married Jane Setzer Nelson on January 15, 1994, and shared many joyful years with her and her two children, Randi and Sterling, before her passing.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jane, and her son Sterling Nelson.
He is survived by his children: Joseph (Colleen) Comp, Shannon (Ellen) Comp, Rochelle (William) Vaughn, Rene (Jabe) Sandberg, Randi Frausto as well as numerous grandchildren.
A viewing will be held at Southern Utah Mortuary on Friday, August 29, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, and Saturday, August 30, 2025, from 12:00 to 1:45 pm. Interment will be at Cedar City Cemetery. Memorial service will be held at 3:30 pm in the Greens Lakes chapel, 1120 W. Greens Lake Dr., Cedar City on August 30, 2025. To view a livestream of the service or leave online condolences, please visit www.mortuary.org.