Jeffrey Arnold Ward

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Jeffrey.

Jeff was born on a hot July summer evening on the 24th to Rodney C. Ward and Carla K. Petersen in the old Dee Memorial Hospital in Ogden, Utah. His mom’s doctor was in the Weber County Mounted Sherriff’s Posse and had to be called away from the rodeo that evening to come and deliver him. He came in his cowboy outfit and duly impressed the nurses. Jeff always thought the parade and rodeo were for his birthday and was very disappointed when he found out this was not true.

As a child he lived in Utah, Montana, South Dakota, Virginia, California, and back again to Utah. Everywhere he lived he played baseball. He was a lefty so his coaches would put him on first base. He was very good at getting an opposing player out before he knew what had happened. He won multiple trophies playing ball. He was active in Cub Scouts, Scouts and enjoyed all the activities he did, especially, making and racing cars in the Pinewood Derbies. He dreamt he would be a long-haul truck driver when he got older. This was never to be, but all through his life he built semi-truck models. His collection of trucks always traveled with us from one end of the country to the other. He had beautiful handwriting which always impressed his teachers at school. He was very smart with math and could always figure things out in his head. He loved algebra and trigonometry. His mom always knew when his dad was on TDY that if anything needed fixing, he was willing and able to do so. When he lived in San Jose, California, and a sitter was needed, he would be the first to be called. One family had four boys and they loved having him over to care for them. No matter where he lived, he always had many friends.

Jeff was called Ope by his brothers and everyone else who knew him. Kent, Kris and Jeff were an inseparable trio. They could have arguments, but everything would blow over and things would be okay again. They depended on each other and always stuck up for one another. They enjoyed doing things such as playing frisbee, hacky sack and throwing the baseball around. One of the things they really enjoyed was going for a “short” ride, they would hop in a car and leave Utah, go through Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and back to Utah. His mom often thought if that was considered a “short” ride, what would be considered a “long” ride.

He worked for the Holmes and Ropelato Dairies milking cows, bailing hay and varies other farm chores. He also helped his friend Billy Gee start up and run his own dairy farm for a short period of time. Occasionally on the farm there would be sheep, he absolutely hated the ticks they carried. When he got home from work, he would have his mom check his hair and body to make sure there weren’t any “dirty things” on him. After he left farming, he worked for Hollis Concrete, Counterpoint Construction, and Feel the Steel doing cement forms. He worked hard all of his life until his health declined, and he couldn’t anymore. After he retired, you could always catch him with a book in his hand or sitting outside listening to his music. He continued to build his semi-truck models, spend nights around the firepit, and hang out with his friends.

Jeff was so very proud of his Dutch Heritage. He enjoyed the stories that his grandparents told about their lives in Holland.

Jeff leaves behind his mom, stepmom, his older brother Kent R. Ward, his three younger sisters Shelley (Quinten) Miller, DeOn Nelson, Andrea (Edward) Jeppson, along with many nieces and nephews that he very much adored.

He also leaves behind Joy Ward who he married and later divorced, along with many good friends he gained over the years.

He was preceded in death by his dad, stepdad, grandparents, Jan and Ali Koning, Grant and Melba Ward, and Arnold and Mimi Scheer.

He was greeted by his brother Kris, who he waited patiently to be reunited with. It must have been the most glorious reunion. He will be laid to rest next to Kris in the Fairview Cemetery (and it is a fair view).

Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Monday at 2 p.m. Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, Idaho.