John Paul Hunter


On March 3, 2023, John Paul Hunter, a most amazing man, left his earthly life and his earthly body in Holladay, Utah to explore new frontiers. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Reese Hunter and Joyce Margaret Doerfler, as well as one of his younger sisters, Ann (Hunter) Hogan.  “Change is the essential process of all existence.” –Mr. Spock
The second child of nine, John made his entrance to life on May 28, 1955 – the day his mother was supposed to be taking her final college exams.  The family was living in Los Angeles, California at the time, but later moved to Granada Hills, California, and then Holladay, Utah.  Even as a toddler, John loved playing with light switches and anything mechanical – possibly foreshadowing his future profession as an electrical engineer specializing in control systems.  Jazz, classical, and rock music became big parts of his life as well. He learned to play the clarinet and guitar, and became very proficient on the piano. Later he would develop a keen interest in electronics and stereos, and even up to his death, built his own sound systems that were the envy of any audiophile – and knocked the socks off the neighbors.
John and his first wife, Jennifer Titus, had a son named Adam.  Their marriage ended in divorce.
On September 23, 1994, John was married to Krystal Lynette Peterson. They were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS temple on March 28, 1998. Together they had two children, Kelsey and Jared.
In Utah, John attended Millcreek Elementary School, Holladay Elementary School, and Olympus Junior High. After graduating from Olympus High School in 1973, he worked in a dental lab and later in his father’s optometric lab.
In 1982, John completed an Associate of Applied Science – Electronics Technician degree. True to his young self and his passion for learning and all things electrical, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (cum laude) from Weber State University in 1987. He was so skilled that, as an undergraduate student, he was asked to teach one of the programming classes to his peers.  A master’s degree in Physics from the University of Utah was his next educational goal, which he completed in 1992. Many certifications were earned later, including Professional Electrical Engineer licenses in Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming, and HAM radio licenses. For over 25 years, John served as an emergency communications specialist, contacting dozens of local HAM operators on a weekly basis to ensure that the systems were all working properly.
At the time of his death, John had been the IT Director at South Valley Water Reclamation Facility (the “poop plant”) for nearly 22 years.  Prior to that, he was Electrical Instrumentation Department Head at Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility, Instrumentation and Controls Manager at Risun Technologies, President/Owner of Instrumentation Contractors, Inc., and Vice-President of Analog and Digital Systems, Inc.  He has also served as Financial Clerk to five bishops while living in his Holladay LDS ward.
The professional magazine, “State Tech”, featured John on the cover of its July/August 2011 issue, with an accompanying article about the incredible high-tech systems he created at South Valley Water. In 2021, John was chosen as South Valley Water’s “Employee of the Year”, and honored at their banquet.
Excellence, precision, and craftsmanship have always been hallmarks of John’s work. But his overriding love and joy has been his family, for whom he would do anything. Friends and family could always count on John for a helping hand rebuilding a transmission, installing a sound system, designing an electronic gizmo, re-wiring a house, smoking a turkey, troubleshooting a health issue, building a screaming-fast computer, or the best laugh they would get all week. He was both a jack and a master of all trades.
John is greatly loved, and his unexpected passing has left a gigantic black hole in the lives of those who know him.  He is survived by his wife Krystal; children Adam Hunter, Kelsey (Kyle) Kitchin, Jared Hunter; step-children Brooke Zeman, Cory (Cristina) Zeman; siblings Helen (Mark) Watts, Donna (Bill) Pizza, Carl (Amy) Hunter, Matthew (Valerie) Hunter, Joyce Hunter, Mark (Heather) Hunter, Angela (David) Reiter; brother-in-law John Hogan; seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; dozens of nieces and nephews; and his adoring cat, Tornado, who he lovingly called Tomato.
Funeral services to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man will be held as follows: Sunday, March 19: 6:00-8:00pm, viewing at Memorial Holladay-Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 S. Highland Drive, Holladay, UT Monday, March 20: 10:00-11:30am, viewing; 12:00pm funeral; both at the LDS chapel, 2065 E. 4675 S., Holladay, UT, followed by a graveside service at the Holladay Memorial Park Cemetery, 4900 S. Memory Lane, Holladay, UT
Live long and prosper, John!
Service Information
Viewing March 19, 2023 at 6:00-8:00 PM
Memorial Holladay~Cottonwood Mortuary, 4670 South Highland Drive, Holladay,Utah 84117





Viewing March 20, 2023 at 10:00-11:30 AM
2065 East 4675 South, Holladay, Utah 84117





Funeral Service
March 20, 2023 at 12:00 PM
2065 East 4675 South, Holladay, Utah 84117