Van Richard Eskelson

While surrounded by loved ones in the early morning hours of August 6, 2023, Van Richard Eskelson quietly left this life. He was born on February 7, 1944, in Logan, Utah, to Lyman Richardson Eskelson and Thelma Shepard. He was raised in Ogden, Utah, with one older sister and one older brother, Lorna, and Shirl, respectively. As a young boy, Van spent many of his early summer years visiting and staying with his Grandma Comish in Cove, Utah. He loved his family and, in remembrance, would visit the Richmond, Utah, cemetery as often as he could.

As a child, Van loved going fishing & hunting while exploring nature. In his teens, he played on the Bonneville high school football team and was known as “Chief.” He had a great love of learning/reading, sports, and music, especially Elvis.

Following high school, Van received a call to serve for two years as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the North British Mission. He had many faith-building experiences as a missionary that he would share with others for the remainder of his life. Upon returning from his mission, Van joined the Army Reserves and attended Weber State University.

After meeting through a mutual acquaintance while at her job at a bank, Van dated and married

Christine Allen on March 25, 1971. In the early years of their marriage, they rented a home from the Osmonds in Huntsville, Utah. There they started a family and added more children when they moved to West Bountiful, Utah, in 1976. Even though his marriage to Christine ended in 1990, he still maintained a love for her and never remarried. Van worked for the Defense Department in Ogden until his move to Davis County, where he worked for many years in window treatments for Lakewood’s Furniture and flooring for Allman’s Carpet in Bountiful, Utah. He moved on to work as a truck driver for different companies, including some time as a bus driver for firefighters and school kids. Before retirement, his final job was with Wagstaff as a truck driver/crane support.

Van served faithfully in many callings as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He cherished his time visiting as a Home Teacher, teaching in Sunday School and High Priest Group. He greatly loved his Father in Heaven and his Savior, Jesus Christ. His most treasured callings were as a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Despite health difficulties in recent years, he never lost his sense of humor or his ability to sit for hours and tell stories. Activities he loved include ice fishing, geocaching, metal detecting, drawing with grandchildren, telling “dad” jokes, and most of all, spending time with family. He spent many hours at various activities supporting his grandchildren, from sporting events to dance recitals to choir and play performances.

He is preceded in death by his parents Lyman and Thelma Eskelson; both siblings, Lorna Rose and Shirl Eskelson; daughter Kim Oviatt; and grandchildren, twins Nora and Hendrick. Surviving children include Stacy (Jason) Abbott, Scott (Kaitlin) Eskelson, Kari (Jason) Badell, and Kyle (Kim) Eskelson, along with beloved cousins, nieces and nephews and his cherished grandchildren (19) and great-granddaughters (2).

A funeral service will be held Monday, August 14, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N 400 E, Bountiful, UT 84010. Friends may visit with the family at a viewing held Sunday, August 13, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the same location and before Monday services from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM. Interment to follow at the Centerville City Cemetery.

As an organ donor, Van donated his eyes to the John A. Moran Eye Center for research purposes,

including but not limited to several conditions such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, Stargardt disease, optic neuritis, retinal stroke, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and Usher syndrome.

Our family would like to thank the Intensive Care Team and the many other healthcare professionals at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, for their excellent care for our father in his final days and the tremendous support they provided for our family.

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