Wayne Goodwin

Wayne W. Goodwin of Taylorsville, Utah passed away on August 19, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. His legacy of laughter, love, faith, and service will linger with us and remind us that he made an indelible mark on this world and upon all those he knew.

Wayne was born to Virgil and Dorothy Goodwin on February 25,1950, and grew up in Kearns, Utah with his brother Steve and sister Elizabeth and graduated from Kearns High School in 1968. He loved playing sports and was great at everything he played. A favorite memory included scoring the first touchdown in Kearns High School history. He loved being active and often reminisced about games of baseball in the street, spending time with cousins on a farm in Circleville, working on cars and driving fast in his beloved '69 Plymouth Road Runner, as well as hunting and fishing in the mountains. His greatest joy was being in the places he loved with the people that he loved.

On March 27, 1970, Wayne married his best friend, Sandra Lee Nielson, and adored her every minute of his life, as they truly became one. They were sealed one year later for eternity in the Salt Lake Temple and have cherished their eternal family as it has grown. He worked tirelessly providing a life that blessed Sandy, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as all others whose lives he touched. He and Sandy never missed an opportunity to fill their home with love, people, laughter, and joy, and opened their hearts to everyone. Together, they dedicated their lives to their family, to their friends, and to service. The blessings this dedication brought to Wayne and Sandy are immense, but unequaled to the blessings they brought to others.

Wayne retired from working at Qwest Communications in August 2010. At work, Wayne diligently worked hard to create opportunities for himself and his family through advancement. He loved to learn and was willing to share whatever knowledge he had with anyone who needed it. On the job, he cared for people in the same way that he did in the rest of his life. He made lifelong friends, he loved their families, and he shared his family with them.

Wayne loved sharing family time in any form. By hitting the highest, deepest fly balls to his kids and grandkids; giving and receiving wet hugs at the swimming pool; providing Koosharem trips and rides on his buggy through the mountains, Lagoon, and around the neighborhood block, Grandpa Wayne created dreams and then made them come true. Wayne loved spending time teaching kids to hunt, and he did not care if it was for animals, pine nuts, logs, or rocks for the rock garden. Wayne made everything possible and more fun. He laughed, he teased, and he joked, and he never left without a hug and an expression of love. His style emanated real and devoted love.

Wayne served, lifted, and taught many young men in callings, scouts, and camps in his ward through his callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He held so many of those young men tightly in his heart as the memories of those times filled him with joy. He spent twelve years coaching softball for his daughters at Cottonwood High School and loved being part of so many wonderful young women's growth and lives. He loved to talk about specific instances where he saw the girls he coached succeed and laugh about the fun times he had while coaching. He sacrificed time and received more blessings back than he ever imagined possible.

There was never a need that he saw that he did not immediately help fulfill. He spent most of his retired years endlessly "puttering," which included things like driving grandkids, fixing sprinklers, watching softball, baseball, track, tennis, bike rides, triathlons, swim meets, and school performances. He enjoyed planting gardens, building cabins on the mountain, cooking family Sunday dinners with Sandy, hosting sleepovers with french toast and bacon breakfasts, hearing about grandkids pets and hobbies, baking bundt cakes, fixing 4-wheelers for the grandkids to use, delivering groceries, telling stories and jokes, and holding and talking about his grandbabies. He never missed an opportunity to show up for someone. No matter what he had going, or how far he had to travel, he made sure that he was there for the person who needed him right then. His greatest joy was to know that he had served someone, filled a heart with love, and relieved a burden.

He had a big, loving personality and collected friends wherever he went. He connected with and remembered people personally, he checked on their needs regularly, and he expressed joy in his connections. He never missed an opportunity to let someone know just how much they meant to him and how deeply they were loved. He loved fiercely and his loyalty was unending.

Wayne once had a friend tell him that when they first met, he thought "What a know it all!" only to soon find out he truly did - know it all. He was a teacher to everyone. There was never a question or problem that he could not answer or would not research to help fix something if it meant helping someone out. He taught his children and grandchildren how to be brave and to learn and to try. Wayne never failed, he just kept fiddling until whatever he was building or fixing worked. Almost any day he could be found fixing the brakes, tearing apart engines, tinkering with carburetors or fixing cords and appliance parts. He taught others to experience and learn as well, while casually joking through it all. He knew the fixing was just a catalyst for making connections and serving.

The most important relationship to Wayne was the one he had with Sandy. He felt their love was one for the ages. He took delicate care of her and wrapped her in his protection. Their laughter together was contagious and made their 55 years wonderful and much too short. The respect he had for her and the relationships they had with her family was doubted by no one. Wayne loved spending time with Sandy and cherished their times alone together whether it was holding hands in their home or driving together on long rides or short trips to the store. The time they spent together filled his heart with joy and peace. Their love truly just kept "getting better, growing stronger" every day.

He was preceded in death by his parents Virg and Dot, his in-laws Cal and Mary Lou, as well as his sister Beth. He is survived by his loving wife Sandy, brother Steve (Chickie), children, Ryan (Nicole), Laurie (RJ), Shanna (Mike), Lacey (Rob), 15 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, soon to be 6, and many more beloved extended family members.

The true mark of Wayne's accomplishments on this earth, is not the things he did, but the people he loved and how deeply they love him. It is in the innumerable ways he has demonstrated perfectly that the things that matter most are the love you share, the time you give, the service and passion that you demonstrate, and the faith that we carry with us. He loved God and was grateful for the family that God gave him, he trusted Him, and blessed others because of that faith.

It is with joy and sorrow, peace and grief, that we send Wayne, our most loved and cherished husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, uncle, brother, and friend ahead of us for now. Howdy Oats Grandpa, we can't wait to see you again. We love you!

Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Saturday, August 23, 2025. Address: 3676 West 4700 South, Taylorsville, Utah

Viewing: 10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Funeral Services: 1:00 p.m.

Interment: 3:00 p.m., West Jordan City Cemetary, 7925 South 1300 West, West Jordan, Utah

Those who wish to livestream the service may do so at the following link: https://zoom.us/wc/96611005810/join?fromPWA=1&_x_zm_rtaid=L5cnvT-vSAiXgKsE24TEDw.1755819551572.3f2c985222d6a740179f9dc999353cd8&_x_zm_rhtaid=908