Wally Henry Jamieson

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Wally will be remembered as an independent, generous, and warmhearted man whose kindness reached far beyond his own family and into the wider community.

Wally Henry Jamieson, born December 12, 1945, in Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away on September 23, 2026, in Salt Lake City. A lifelong son of the city he loved, Wally will be remembered as an independent, generous, and warmhearted man whose kindness reached far beyond his own family and into the wider community.

Born to Glen Jamieson and Katherine van de Kant Jamieson, Wally grew up in Salt Lake City and attended grade school and high school there, graduating in 1964. From a young age, he showed both determination and a desire to make his own way. He worked a variety of jobs, including mowing lawns, babysitting, and working in a women’s department store, earning his own money through steady effort and a willingness to do whatever work was needed.

As a boy, Wally played the accordion. At eight years old, he rode a city bus with his accordion to lessons because his mother wanted him to learn to play. Even so, as a child he was more drawn to baseball and football than to music lessons. At 14, he broke his wrist while playing football with friends, an injury whose effects stayed with him for years and would later shape the course of his military service.

After high school, Wally enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War. He completed basic training at Fort Ord and earned the National Defense Service Medal for Rifle Marksmanship. He was later released from the Army during the war after his previously broken wrist was discovered, and he continued in the Army Reserve. His service remained a meaningful part of his life and one of the accomplishments of which he was proud.

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He delighted in entertaining people and in small acts of care—meeting neighbors, nurses, waitresses, and children with thoughtfulness, humor, and the folded dollar-bill creations he so often carried to give away.

Following his military service, Wally worked at United Electric, Whitmore Oxygen, Liquid Air, and for a year as a UTA driver. Curious about how things worked and eager to build something of his own, he took a home study course in locksmithing. That training led to the work for which so many came to know him best: he started his own business, Wally’s Safe Lock & Key, in Salt Lake City. As an entrepreneur, he became known as a locksmith people could trust—kind, fairly priced, dependable, and always ready to help. He could talk to anyone, and people knew they could count on him. He was greatly appreciated in the community and widely known for his generosity. Wally loved being his own boss, and he built a business that reflected his character as much as his skill.

In 1968, Wally married Diane Goodman, and together they welcomed their daughter, Michelle, on April 1, 1970. Michelle was the apple of his eye and one of the greatest joys of his life. Every year after her first birthday, Wally reminded her of the memorable April Fools’ Day when he and Diane were on their way to the hospital for her birth and were struck by another car at an intersection. The police took Diane to the hospital while Wally stayed behind to handle the accident. He then walked to the hospital to meet his beautiful baby girl, a story he lovingly retold each year with his familiar humor. Wally and Diane then divorced in 1977.

One of Wally’s greatest joys came in 1999, when Michelle gave birth to a sweet little girl named Breanna. As his only grandchild, Breanna held a very special place in his heart, and he loved and cherished her deeply. Being a father and grandfather brought Wally immense pride and happiness, and his love for Michelle and Breanna remained among the most treasured parts of his life.

In August of 1994, he got a call from a woman who had just moved to Salt Lake City and needed a deadbolt put on her door. Her name was Rose, and she had just moved from Wyoming. He came to her house and met her little pug dog named Buster. It was love at first sight! It took a little time but eventually he grew to love Rose and even her cats too.

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He will be remembered with love by those who knew him and by the many people in Salt Lake City whose days were made brighter by his humor, his craftsmanship, and his unfailing willingness to help.

Wally found joy in many things. He loved to fish from a boat and in rivers, and Jackson Hole held a special place in those memories. He enjoyed camping and the outdoors, traveling and seeing new places, and especially treasured an Alaskan cruise. He liked baseball, football, magic tricks, and origami, particularly folding dollar bills into elephants or rings. He loved driving around Salt Lake City, taking in how much it had grown over the years. Animals were deeply important to him. He loved all his dogs, put up with two cats, and especially enjoyed spending time with his dog Benji.

He was, above all, someone who liked to bring a smile to others. Wally enjoyed telling jokes, attempting magic tricks even when they did not always work, and sharing funny internet stories. In his later years, even with limited mobility, that playful spirit remained. He delighted in entertaining people and in small acts of care—meeting neighbors, nurses, waitresses, and children with thoughtfulness, humor, and the folded dollar-bill creations he so often carried to give away. His generosity was not reserved for grand occasions; it lived in everyday moments, in kindnesses both simple and unforgettable.

Among the family stories that will be treasured is the one he told his daughter each year about the April Fools’ Day car accident on the way to her birth in 1970, a memory he returned to with affection and humor. That was Wally’s way: to hold onto the stories that made life vivid, to share them often, and to keep those around him laughing.

Wally was preceded in death by his parents, Glen Jamieson and Katherine van de Kant Jamieson. He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Jamieson, and his daughter, Michelle Jacobs. In their love for him, and in the many stories, habits, and gestures that will continue to call him to mind, his presence endures.

He leaves behind the memory of a man who was curious, capable, and deeply kind; a man who built a life with his own hands and gave generously from his heart. He will be remembered with love by those who knew him and by the many people in Salt Lake City whose days were made brighter by his humor, his craftsmanship, and his unfailing willingness to help.