Arthur Jacob Lauritzen
Arthur Jacob Lauritzen passed away peacefully on February 13, 2024.
Art was born in Hurricane, Utah on April 25, 1947. He was the youngest child born to Dawn and Elizabeth Lauritzen. He spent his early childhood in Southern Utah, before moving to Northern Utah where he graduated from Box Elder High School. One of his favorite pastimes as a youth was to sit outside in the evening and listen to music. He would have long talks with his father on the balcony, and when he himself was a father, his children always knew where to find him if they wanted a one-on-one visit.
His faith was important to him. Following high school, in the late 60’s, he taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Northern Argentina. Later, in his life, he was an ordinance worker at the Salt Lake Temple for two years. In 2020, he and his wife Janet, were inner-city service missionaries for the Lucero Ward, a Spanish-speaking congregation in Salt Lake City.
In 1971, Art graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Weber State University and then worked for the Utah State Tax Commission for 30 years. He traveled the country as a sales tax auditor in the first part of his career, and he enjoyed the travel as much as his work. Even after he changed positions at the Tax Commission, he still traveled. He had a flight pass and would fly standby for leisure. He and his sweetheart, Janet Payne Lauritzen, enjoyed taking day trips together. In 2018 he reached his goal of visiting all fifty states, by vacationing with her in Hawaii.
This past summer, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. They had been married for eternity on August 23, 1973, in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A few years ago, he wrote, “On our first wedding anniversary I realized what a lucky man I was. I was married to a very beautiful woman who accepted me completely. We had never quarreled and had been blessed with a new home and a child of our own.”.
His children remember him saying what a rich person he was because of his family. He was proud of his children, and they were proud to be his. Art also deeply loved his extended family. He was an affectionate and reliable father and grandfather who taught his family responsibility, resilience, optimism, peace-making, and many other virtues. They also share his interests such as current events, history, and going for “little rides” (which were anything but little, as they usually involved an hours-long trip through the canyons).
Throughout his life, he served and loved others without seeking praise. Even when going through trials, he was good-natured and didn’t complain or draw attention to himself. He served his country in the National Guard and Army Reserves. He was the treasurer for community organizations, and he coordinated the Sunday services for the Millcreek Care Center for twenty years. After the Sunday services, he would personally visit residents of the care center, often taking his youngest daughters with him. He taught his children to recognize and encourage those around them, regardless of station, ability, or age.
Art is survived by his wife, Janet, and children, Bryan (Carolyn) Lauritzen, Elizabeth (Ken) Gray, Matthew (Leeann) Lauritzen, Eric (Jan) Lauritzen, Diana (Thomas) Stringer, and Robyn Kate (Glen) Taylor. Six granddaughters, six grandsons, and his siblings: Elizabeth Hope Dickson and Karl Lauritzen. He is preceded in death by his father, Richard Dawn Lauritzen, mother, Elizabeth Moyes Lauritzen, sister JoAnn Robinson, and brothers Theodore Marion Lauritzen and Richard Dawn Lauritzen, Jr.
A viewing will be on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Brookshire Ward meeting house, 3487 South 1300 East, Millcreek, Utah 84106. Funeral services will be on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 1:00 PM. Another viewing will be held from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM at the same location, prior to services.