Born 25 January 1946 in Provo Utah, to John Clyde Ward and Vanita Jenkins Ward
Died 10 September 2025 in Spanish Fork
Jan had an infectious laugh. He found humor in the simplest of interactions. Jan’s love of history and memory for names and dates allowed us to know people that we have never met, especially family members, and friends from days gone by. His stories were of ordinary people living ordinary lives, but there was always an angle. We know them because Jan was a good storyteller.
Jan is best known for his musical talent. With some coaxing we could get him to play for us. One year at Christmas he played a song that he composed for the mandolin. The notes rang sweet, the tune cleverly complicated yet simple. When it ended there was a long silence, as if the notes were fading slowly, sinking deep into the soul. His music, his way, was precise and joyful. He told us that he worked it up during the morning, but Grandmother said he’d been practicing for weeks.
Grandad talked of Jan with high regard, especially when it came to music. They loved playing together, even challenging each other as they embellished with theme, counterpoint, and texture. He said that Jan learned to play the ukulele at a young age. Within a short amount of time he showed a complete understanding of the mechanics and features of the instrument, so much, that he could easily pick-up another stringed instrument, compare features, and then play like he’d been practicing the new instrument for years.
The mandolin was his favorite. He played several types of guitars including classical, acoustic, and electric. He could also play with various number of strings including 4, 6 and 8. I even heard him play the banjo; I think it had 5-strings.
Jan had some disappointments in life. As a young man he wanted to serve a mission for the Church. He graduated from Provo High School and attended Brigham Young University for a year. He also worked and saved money for his mission. All of these to fill, what had been the standard requirements for being recommended to serve. When his mission call arrived in the mail, there was also a certified letter delivered from the local draft board.
He served in the United States Army for two years, including a tour in Vietnam. He was assigned to a helicopter unit where he served as a clerk sending letters to families of deceased soldiers and arranging leaves and travel for troops. Grandad said, with some relief, that Jan was always better with a typewriter than he was with a gun.
Jan put that typewriter to work again when back in the states. He worked for a newspaper company setting type and selling advertising. He married Janna Lynn Clay on January 22,1977 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They met in Portland, Oregon. They bought a home in Springville and he worked at US Steel. When the plant closed, they moved back to the Portland area and
later separated so he returned to Utah. He was a great support to his parents in their later years.
Janna recalls, “Jan was a man of strong faith, wonderful and caring. He loved attending church, while his health permitted, spending time with family and friends, and found much joy in his musical interests. All of us who loved him will greatly miss him.”

Throughout his life Jan served in church positions, including Elders Quorum Instructor, Second Counselor in the Sunday School Presidency, Ward Choir Member, Ward Librarian, Ward Chorister and as a great home teacher and ministering brother.
Jan is survived by his sweetheart, Janna Lynn Clay and brother, Ronald Clyde Ward. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, William Mark Ward.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Walker Mortuary, 187 South Main, Spanish Fork, Utah. Viewing will be from 9:45 -10:45 and the funeral begins at 11 a.m. He will be interred in the Provo City Cemetery with Military honors by the veterans.

The funeral service for Jan Ward will be streamed live. Please return to his memorial page shortly before 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025 and click on the link below.

Jan Ward Livestream Broadcast