Van Lynn Bronson

Van Lynn Bronson—a valiant son, brother, husband, father and grandfather, returned to our Heavenly Father on December 9, 2020 in Provo, Utah after working hard, playing hard, and loving his family and friends. His goal to bring a smile to our faces will be realized over and over as we remember his stories and jokes and unconditional love for each of us.

Van Lynn was born March 8, 1945 to Victor and Norma Bronson in Provo, Utah as the fourth child in a family that would include eleven—four daughters and seven sons. He was raised in Pleasant Grove with a happy childhood for a young man who loved adventure, sports of every kind, including hunting. Lynn loved school and played football and ran track and field events--graduating from Pleasant Grove High School in 1963. Lynn was a tall husky young man and worked every summer with his grandfather and uncle on their Kamas farm, moving sprinkler pipes, milking cows, and hauling bales of hay. That’s how he got in shape to play football.

He loved horses and his children remember fondly “Go Boy,” “Cherokee,” and “Rusty.” He also had a quarter-horse stallion that he and his brother Tracy raced in chariot races.

He married his high school sweetheart Laurel McEwan on April 12, 1963. They welcomed five children Michael, Paul, Mark, Angie and Annette.

His children have fond memories of their dad coaching them in baseball, bantam basketball, and football—where he was the commissioner of little league football for 17 years. The girls loved the many nights and hours of play time at the parks while the family supported their hero brothers. While Lynn played a lot of church basketball and refereed many games as well, his greatest joy was to see his sons excel in all the sports they chose. In fact, he drove the school bus so that he could drive the team and be there with his boys.

After the farming days, he was a pile driver, following after his father. He loved seeing a big crane and knew the joy of operating heavy equipment. Lynn worked at Geneva Steel in the rolling mills and truly enjoyed training new men as crane operators.

After Geneva was sold, he turned to a new vocation and was a very successful salesman in the marble industry. The construction industry was strong and he opened his own shop called “The Marble Company.”

While on jury duty he met Nettie Linton who thought it would be great to set him up with one of her friends. She talked to her friend Janet Wilson Blosch who then talked to another friend Veloy Smith who went to school with Lynn. They looked him up in the yearbook then drove over to his house to check things out. They started dating and they hit it off right away. After a long courtship, Lynn finally decided to pop the question. They were married on September 21, 1990 and added her children Tyson, Esha, Shaler and Zenica to his family.

They lived for awhile in the rental home in Highland and then they built the house in Bull River. After a few years, Zenica got in a car accident and called home. He asked if Zen wanted to talk to her mom and she said "No Lynn, I want to talk to you." He knew then that maybe it would work to blend families.

Jan worked with him in the marble business—running the office while Lynn sold the marble. They took many trips together to Bear Lake or Mexico. Lynn was always in charge of the bacon for Jan's delicious Christmas brunch. Jan was diagnosed with Leukemia and after a 22-month battle she left this earth on January 21, 2011.

Lynn has been an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all his life. This belief helped him to pick up the pieces of his life and put his trust in the Lord. Lynn's children always saw the example of service. One summer Lynn volunteered himself and his three sons to put a new roof on their home teacher’s home and a sweet little widow’s home. He was happy and loved life and its journey. He was a very positive person—and would sing, “Whose on the Lord’s side who.” His children knew he loved them and expected great things of them, but when the grandchildren started to come, he was in Heaven. He had a big rocker and nothing pleased him more than to tuck a little one in his arm, hum a little tune and rock that baby to sleep.

Lynn married Connie Carpenter Houtz on June 1, 2012 adding her children Julie, Alan and Ginger and her step children Janet, Sherrie, Marilyn, David and Larry. These were times of a little less stress of work and more time to enjoy life. Serving at the Temple in the Baptistry was one of Lynn’s cherished assignments and he loved seeing the young people come each week. Lynn brought out the best in Connie, because he loved her children and grandchildren—that made her love him and his family even more. Lynn was an unexpected blessing in her life.

Lynn is survived by his wife, Connie, children Michael, Paul (Dana), Mark (Kimberly), Angie Pluid (Dan), Annette Miner(Gary), Zenica Sanford (Ryan), Esha Blosch (Serena), Shaler Blosch, Julie McGill (Steve), Alan Peck (Margaret), Ginger Carter, Janet Harward, Sherrie Valdez (Jim), Marilyn Stockett (Ted), David Houtz (Sarah), and Larry Houtz (Deborah), siblings: Sherman (Vickie), Tim (Leilani), Pennie Browne (Dale), Cindy Mitchell (Mark), Dante (Lorrie), Coy (Christine), 125 grandchildren and great grandchildren combined. Lynn was preceded in death by: Janet Bronson, parents Victor and Norma, siblings: Tracy, Connie Roberts, Janet Price, Stanley and step-son Tyson Blosch.

The family funeral will be Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 11 am in the LakeView 7th Ward located at 155 W. 1600 S. Orem, UT.

There will be a public viewing Friday, December 18, from 6-8 pm at the Nelson Family Mortuary located at 4780 N. University Ave., Provo, UT. This will be limited and by appointment only in order to follow Covid-19 protocol. Please RSVP to the nelsonmortuary.com website.

Due to the present conditions the funeral service will be streamed at this link:

https://lynnbronsonmemorial.blogspot.com/