Mark Mitchell Klotovich

On Friday December 13, at 3:00PM, the world went dark for it lost a beacon of light. Mark Mitchell Klotovich Jr. passed away from complications of a second stroke three days prior at Jordan Valley Hospital surrounded by his family who adored and worshiped him. He was born to Mark Klotovich Sr. and Minnie Mary Mitchell on March 13, 1938 in Murray, Utah. His grandparents, Baba and Dede, emigrated to the U.S. from Croatia to work in the Highland Boy copper mines in Bingham, Utah. His great grandfather also had a farm in South Jordan where they raised crops and chickens, and sold eggs. Mark loved his animal companions, horse Shaganasty and his beloved dog Potta Boy.
Pa loved working in his grandfather’s fields. This love would lead him to become a successful mink farmer. He even tried the wine his great-grandmother pressed, even though he watched her stomp the grapes with dirty, bare feet. He didn’t like the wine. Mark had hoped to take over his grandfather’s farm. His heart was broken when that didn’t happen but he never complained.
In 1956, Mark graduated from Jordan High School where he played basketball and met Elaine Jenson. As a talented dancer, Elaine was concerned on their first date, as Mark didn’t know how to dance and kept stumbling into her. However, she said Mark did dance a mean Jitterbug.
Mark earned a scholarship to play basketball for Utah State University. Without any help, not even a tank of gas to get to Logan, Mark financed his own car and college expenses. Mark also learned how to box from Marv Jenson who trained Gene Fullmer, the middleweight boxing champion. At USU, Mark boxed in the intramural program. When boxing a navy seaman who was 10 years older, and about to go down, Mark headed for a corner to fall but because cute co-eds were watching, he stuck it out. Mark won the fight.
Elaine Jenson and Mark Klotovich married August 2, 1957 in the Logan, Utah temple. They had three children: Kevan Klotovich (Kellie), Lance (deceased) Klotovich (Georgia), and Sherese Klotovich Merrill (Brad). Mark and Elaine’s lives revolved around their treasured children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and serving all others regardless of need or background.
Mark was a patriotic man who loved his country and flag. He served two terms on the Jordan School District School Board, and as president. He also ran for West Jordan Mayor and Utah Legislature District 45 but lost both those races because he was the only Democrat in Utah.
After USU, Mark taught History, Photography, and Health at Midvale Jr. High for six years. He displayed his boxing trophy on his desk and told students he never lost a fight. He said students rarely acted up. He also brought an organ from a cow, carved it in front of his shocked students, and told them that if they smoked their lungs would turn black.
Mark left teaching and went to Western Electric. From there he went to Mountain Bell and retired from AT & T. In 1966, Mark started his own mink farm and pelted out decades later. His mink farm was his pride and joy and where he taught his children how to work at very young ages. During his years on the schoolboard, Mark worked the midnight shift at AT & T so he could farm his mink farm in the daytime, and was on his bishopric. Running on no sleep, Mark took every call regarding school district issues, and never fell asleep at church. When Mark officially retired, he started working for the South Jordan Canal Company, which he was still doing at the time of his death. One word best sums up Pa: Worker.
Mark had numerous talents. He could fix anything, build anything, run a tractor, flatbed dump truck and chain saw, paint on any surface, carve, grow any plant (he would seek out unique plants and keep seeds), make colorful planters, and create songs and stories. He loved sports, especially basketball and football. If a game was on TV, Mark and Elaine were watching it, although he would watch Dancing with The Stars with Elaine. The Klotovich’s was a renowned destination for Halloween. Mark, Elaine, and Craig Gines would create elaborate scenery and scares. He was a fiercely proud USU Aggie, however, he also loved BYU and the U of U and always remained a devoted Utah Jazz fan.
Mark had a wonderful sense of humor and could lighten the mood with a simple comment. He was known for his gunch look, a goofy smile he perfected when he was a young man and often broke out when others needed a boost. Those who saw the “gunch” are truly lucky.
Mark never raised his voice. He was the quiet, gentle man who showed few bouts of anger such as the time he shook and sprayed a bottle of soda on the ceiling and
threw a glass milk jug against the wall. Mark was larger than life, a living John Wayne, who always protects the others and fights for what is right and just.
Most of all, Mark embodied Christ. He would give his last dollar to his enemy if he knew it would help. Mark and Elaine would make deliveries to that in need: roast chickens to many different people, corn, bread and vegetables to many families either who needed the help or who didn’t. He also trimmed trees and shrubs for widowed women, shoveled sidewalks and cleared snow with his tractor. Just this month he had been on his tractor moving snow and shoveling walks for his neighbors.
The day Mark had his second stroke he was painting jewelry boxes for his great grandchildren for Christmas and then he delivered a case of oranges to the Fire Department. The firefighters found him unconscious and got him to the hospital. He regained consciousness at the hospital and was able to say goodbye to his immediate and extended family for the last time. He was a fighter and fought to the end. Thank you to the staff at Jordan Valley Hospital, all of the ward members and neighbors who watch out for Mark and Elaine. In lieu of flowers, please give your time and resources to others who need help and friendship, especially those who need it most or even those who don’t.
A viewing will be held at Memorial Redwood Mortuary, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah on Friday, December 20 from 5-7 and on Saturday, December 21 at Plum Creek Ward 1465 West 8420 South, West Jordan, Utah from 10:00AM- 11:00AM. A funeral service will follow the viewing on Saturday. Interment at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery.
Service Information
Viewing December 20, 2019 at 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Memorial Redwood Mortuary and Cemetery 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah 84123





Viewing December 21, 2019 at 10:00 - 10:45 AM
Plum Creek Ward 1465 West 8420 South, West Jordan, Utah, 84088





Funeral Service
December 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Plum Creek Ward 1465 West 8420 South, West Jordan, Utah, 84088