Kevin Mark Johansen, Jacki’s sweetheart, was born in Provo, Utah on May 31st 1954 to Franz and Ruth Johansen. He was the second oldest of seven children, four brothers and two sisters. He passed away peacefully at his home on February 5th after a two year battle with Leiomyosarcoma cancer. He was 68 years old.
Living on the edge of town, near the Provo river, young Kevin quickly found his love for the outdoors and adventure. He graduated from Orem High in 1972 where he was active in football, wrestling and track. He married his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline Jorgensen in April of 1973 and they were later sealed in the Los Angeles California temple. Over the next 14 years 6 rugrats were added to the pair.
In the early years of their marriage Kevin turned to the woodworking field creating furniture, cabinetry and other millwork eventually starting his own successful small business. He appreciated the principle of hard work and expected the highest quality in his and other’s work. Kevin exemplified integrity and honesty in every aspect of his life, especially in business.
Kevin attended Brigham Young University with football and track scholarships. He loved to run, finishing several marathons and even finished the Wasatch 100 miler in 1992. He enjoyed fishing the Huntsville and Provo rivers and streams particularly for the opening fishing weekend. His ultimate love for fishing was found off the tip of Baja in Mexico, always searching for that elusive Blue Marlin, just like the old man and the sea. Grandpa Mark instilled the longstanding Johansen tradition of the hunt for the big six point elk or the perfect 4 point deer. Standing around the fire, telling tall hunting stories, eating grandma Ruth’s cinnamon buns along with uncles, brothers and his dad, Kevin learned the finer points of hunting.
Kevin looked for adventure and found it (again) with brothers and close friends with some of the first whitewater kayaks in Utah County running the Provo, the Middle Fork, Deso and even on to the mighty Colorado. Kayaking eventually turned to rafting and for over 25 years as a guide he shared history, geology and the stories of the Grand Canyon and its roaring rapids.
After his knees gave up on him from running, he joined the cycling community to add to his passion for adventure. He explored thousands of miles of road cycling. Eventually he was led to the dirt trails and joy of mountain biking. No quit grit and unending determination showed through on long rides and tough races with close friends and family. Kevin was larger than life and it showed on the trail. One “trail” led him and a group of others to another great passion, Rancho Feliz in Agua Prieta, Mexico.
The border town of Agua Prieta is home to the Rancho Feliz charitable organization where Kevin rekindled his decades long friendship with Gil Gillenwater and found his most impactful and meaningful passion. Kevin was drawn to Mexico his entire life and was intrigued by its culture and atmosphere; he loved the Mexican people. Rancho Feliz, in particular the “Highly Houses” program, gave him the chance to impact the trajectory of many lives. He dedicated countless hours striving to make a difference and his influence has touched many lives across the globe.
Kevin was dedicated to sharing his passions with others and found great satisfaction in helping others learn and see what he had in his life. He taught the gospel so they could feel what he knew. He let others catch the marlin, so they could feel the fish jump. He showed others the canyon so they could experience what he loved. He encouraged others to join the Highly House builds to give new hopes and dreams all while finding the “portal to abundance in their own lives”.
Kevin is survived by his sweetheart Jacki, and his 2 daughters and 3 sons: Lori Carter (Jarid) of Santaquin, Mark (Shaelie) of Santaquin, Alan (Emilie) of Herriman, Brian of Salem, Kristen (Ricardo Calzada) of Salem, 14 grandchildren, sister Lynn Bell (Bob) of Salt Lake, brother, David (Julie) of Payson, brother, Nathan (Betsy) of Provo, brother, Shawn (Michelle) of Rexburg ID, brother, Mathew (Andrea) of Sydney Australia, and sister, Lisa Tucker (John) of Lindon. He was preceded in death by a son Ronald David, parents Franz and Ruth Johansen, and parents in-law Robert and Doris Jorgensen.
A viewing will be held on Thursday February 9th, from 6 to 8 pm at the Walker Mortuary, 187 S Main St in Spanish Fork, Utah. An additional viewing will be held on Friday February 10th from 9:45 to 10:45 am at the Salem Heights Ward church building, 160 South 460 West in Salem Utah with the funeral to follow at 11 am. Interment will be in the Salem City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging donations in honor of Kevin’s passion to the “Highly Houses” through Rancho Feliz at https://ranchofeliz.com/get-involved/highly-houses/.
1 Condolence for Kevin Mark Johansen
Condolence(1)
Christa Sadler says
February 9, 2023 at 9:47 pmI worked with Kevin on several Grand Canyon trips and I was always glad to have him on my crew. I knew that back there behind me on the river was a super competent, steady, and brave soul, who would do whatever it took to keep all of us and our guests safe. We always had a good time working together, and I think of him often when I am down there. I still remember running into him at Stone Creek in 2000, as the river was about as thick and red and muddy as it could be after major storms had hit us about a week before. We were talking about how much stuff was in the river (logs, basketballs, and such) and he said that he had run Granite (I think it was) with a cow washed down off the Navajo Nation. The image of steady Kevin, motoring his boat while watching a cow floating alongside him in the big waves always makes me laugh. He didn’t sound stressed, just practical. “You definitely did NOT want to hit it.” God speed, Kevin. The river and her canyon and all of us will miss you. Go teach some youngsters how to row properly on your new rivers. May the winds always blow downstream now…