JoAnn Pearson Jensen

JoAnn Pearson Jensen passed away March 15th, 2026, at her son’s home in Birmingham, Alabama, surrounded by many who deeply loved her. She was born the oldest of five children to Oswald Levi Pearson and June Vilate Young in Minersville, Utah, on May 5th, 1932. Her life can be characterized by her resolute and adventurous spirit, present even as a young girl. When the World's Fair rolled through, her parents promised her a nickel for every glass of milk she drank; one dollar was sufficient. In elementary school, JoAnn’s younger sister was being teased, and as the incredibly “lofty and important” daughter of the high school principal, JoAnn put a stop to that. After high school, JoAnn attended the University of Utah where she received a bachelor’s degree in home economics. She taught home economics at Bountiful High School for one year, discovering she really enjoyed teaching the boys because they were always eager to eat what they made. JoAnn then served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sydney, Australia. At the time of little to no air travel, she went by boat and circumnavigated the globe.

Upon her return to daily life, JoAnn worked as a product demonstrator for the gas company until her marriage. She continued her love of cooking and trying new recipes throughout her life. Her children ate tofu long before its popularity outside of Asia.

At the encouragement of her mother and future mother-in-law, she met Richard Alma Jensen (Dick) on a blind date. They fell in love and were married in the Salt Lake City Temple on August 25th, 1958. Their union was one of deep devotion, love, and true partnership. In the late 1970’s in McCall, ID, after a fire decimated part of their family home, Dick sandblasted “I Love JoAnn” into the smoke-damaged cedar wood paneling during reconstruction, and after trying to even out the rest of the panel, his love remained engraved for all to see. During their 50-year union, JoAnn and Dick raised eight children, devoted themselves to church callings, and lived a life of travel and hard work. As a senior couple, they served together as Church Education System missionaries in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

JoAnn’s greatest loves were Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, her Savior, the gospel of Jesus Christ and her family. Always a gracious host, her home was filled with love, a ready welcome and ice cream.

JoAnn is survived by: her children SarahJo (Darren) Knuteson, BethAnn (Dale) Call, Cathryn (Kevin) Cragun, Richard (Debra Bridges) Jensen, son-in-law Daryll Franco, Neil (Amanda Porter) Jensen, Matthew (Lori Casper) Jensen, Newel (Susie Mizerak) Jensen, 30 grandchildren, 34+ great-grandchildren and “adopted” family Nancy Robles and children David (Kate) Cabera, Andrea Cabera, and Mariano Cabera. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard Alma Jensen; her daughter, Maria Jensen Franco; her parents, Oswald Levi Pearson and June Vilate Young; her twin brothers, Oswald Levi and Oliver Leland Pearson and her sisters, Nancy Rae Pearson Folsom and Ruth Lynne Pearson Ladd.

Viewing will be held 9:30 to 10:30 am with funeral services following, Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6301 South 2300 East, SLC, Utah.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humanitarian Fund or Missionary Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/humanitarian-services or https://philanthropies.churchofjesuschrist.org/missionary/