1929
Shorland
2018
Shorland Garth Hunsaker
July 27, 1929 — March 30, 2018
A remarkable, honest, generous, humble, dedicated, loving, devoted, tall dark & handsome son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, teacher, friend, and neighbor. Also affectionately known as ‘Shark’, Pa, Poppy, Pop, Grandpa, and Gpa. Shorland Garth Hunsaker, 88, left us peacefully on March 30, 2018 from a broken heart with the recent passing of his sweetheart Helen L “Blondie” surrounded by his children.
Born July 27, 1929 to LeGrande & Rachel Annie Harper Hunsaker in Tremonton, UT. The 9th of 11 children. Raised on a farm in Honeyville, UT, the city founded by his Great-grandfather, Abraham Hunsaker, of the Mormon Battalion, and he was in the famous Golden Spike railroad pictures. Dad was baptized at Crystal Hot Springs on July 1, 1937. He wanted to stay and swim afterwards.
Being active in Scouting, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and 4-H Club where he won many awards & blue ribbons in sheep and beef divisions. Shorland was an entrepreneur from an early age. Starting at 14 years old he sold his 4-H livestock to purchase a small herd of dairy cows that he milked daily before school, selling the milk.
Graduated from Box Elder High School, go Bees! Where he excelled in sports taking All State championship for 2 years in Football, Wrestling, and Boxing. He received a scholarship to Utah State. Served an Eastern States LDS Mission including New York City where he met Sister Lehman, his future wife who would be the love of his life for over 65 years. He married Helen L in the Salt Lake Temple June 20, 1952.
Drafted into the Army, serving from 1952-1954 in the Korean War with his brother Maurice. Attended Utah State, go Aggies! where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Business and Social Science, June 1957. Earned his Masters degree in Economics while on a teaching assistantship at the University of Florida, ‘go Gators!’ in Gainesville June 1959. During summers as he furthered his education in the 1960s towards a Doctorate degree, we were afforded the opportunity to live in different cities where he attended school.
Shorland taught at Murray High School for 28 years from 1959 – 1987. He was respected and voted ‘Teacher of the Year’ several times. After graduation, our house would get toilet papered often, which we used. Many of his students thought he should run for President of the United States. Active member of the UEA & President. Received many awards, including 1 from Governor Norm Bangerter, for “Excellence in Teaching.” Dad had numerous newspaper articles written about him over the years and was very involved in the community, including political involvement as a Democrat. He was retired for 31 years and enjoyed every day of it!
Shorland loved and had a zest for life, many interests and stayed involved in all of our lives. He was serious, fun and full of adventure. Always gave an endearing “Good Luck.” Other outside occupations were builder, carpenter, Utah farmer, small aircraft pilot, Montana rancher, developer (had a subdivision, Shoreland Heights, named after him), realtor, investor (started several companies), and janitor. Always a brilliant man, hard worker and could fix anything. Mom always said she got the “best one in his bunch.”
Shared his love of learning, enjoyment of the outdoors and nature with all of us. Hobbies and other interests include family events, snowskiing was his passion (his last season, 2007 – 2008, skied 125 days, ending his career in April with an injury of 2 cracked vertebrae and a concussion), fishing, boating (occasionally taking foreign exchange students with us), water skiing, camping, hunting, canyon cookouts, hiking, ice skating, snowmobiling, rollerblading, snowboarding, traveling, boogie boarding, cross country road trips, spending over 40 years of family time at Snowbird, visiting relatives, museums, national parks, landmarks, culture of other places and people, listening to music, working in the yard and garden. For years he was endearingly referred to as “Peter Pan.” Dad would smile at that comment, especially as he went rollerblading past. He enjoyed all scenery, clouds, sunrises, sunsets, and long drives. Playing family card games, chess, and checkers. Loved thinking games. Built a pinewood derby racetrack for the boy scouts competition that was used for years in our Granger ward and maybe is still in use.
Being an avid reader, he almost always had a magazine in his hand. Since age 9 he read the Readers Digest from cover to cover every month. Dad had a photographic memory. Hearing the song America the Beautiful and seeing our gorgeous flag would bring him to tears.
He encouraged us to try new experiences, take some risks, live our lives to the fullest. Dad was supportive and attended the events we were involved in. Try until you succeed. He accepted his losses so he could move on.
Shorland is survived by 6 children, Helen Jane, Shorla, James (Karen), Dudley (Kym), Susan, Randall (Paige); 13 grandchildren Andrew, August (Jessica), Kory (Monica), Heidi (Ryan), Corbin, Parker (Natalie), Samantha, Dustin (Ashlynd), Bailee (Brady), Brooke, Allison, Cash, Chadwick; 12 great-grandchildren Isaac, Hayden, Kaleb, Brielle, Londyn, Abigail, Harrison, Blake, Henry, Seth, Eliza, Rowan, and 1 more boy on the way; 1 brother Dan (91); 1 sister Betty (86); 2 sisters-in-law Ruth Johnson (101) and Cleo Barthule (96); many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his bride Helen L; parents; 7 brothers; 1 sister; daughter Sally (Susan’s twin); great-granddaughter Claire; son-in-laws: Stephen Higdon, Richard McCarver.
Viewing will be held Friday April 6, 6pm – 8pm. Funeral service will be held Saturday April 7 at 11am preceded by a viewing 9:30am – 10:45am. Viewings and Services will be held at Willow Creek Stake Center 2350 E Creek Rd (8200 South) Sandy, UT 84093. Interment at Memorial Mountain View 3115 E 7800 South (Bengal Blvd). In lieu of flowers, please donate to your nearest food bank.
Please take the opportunity to share a memory of Shorland at www.memorialutah.com.Service Information
Viewing April 6, 2018 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Willow Creek 9th Ward, 2350 Creek Road, Sandy, Utah
Viewing April 7, 2018 at 9:30 - 10:45 AM
Willow Creek 9th Ward, 2350 Creek Road, Sandy, Utah
Funeral Service
April 7, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Willow Creek 9th Ward, 2350 Creek Road, Sandy, Utah
Born July 27, 1929 to LeGrande & Rachel Annie Harper Hunsaker in Tremonton, UT. The 9th of 11 children. Raised on a farm in Honeyville, UT, the city founded by his Great-grandfather, Abraham Hunsaker, of the Mormon Battalion, and he was in the famous Golden Spike railroad pictures. Dad was baptized at Crystal Hot Springs on July 1, 1937. He wanted to stay and swim afterwards.
Being active in Scouting, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and 4-H Club where he won many awards & blue ribbons in sheep and beef divisions. Shorland was an entrepreneur from an early age. Starting at 14 years old he sold his 4-H livestock to purchase a small herd of dairy cows that he milked daily before school, selling the milk.
Graduated from Box Elder High School, go Bees! Where he excelled in sports taking All State championship for 2 years in Football, Wrestling, and Boxing. He received a scholarship to Utah State. Served an Eastern States LDS Mission including New York City where he met Sister Lehman, his future wife who would be the love of his life for over 65 years. He married Helen L in the Salt Lake Temple June 20, 1952.
Drafted into the Army, serving from 1952-1954 in the Korean War with his brother Maurice. Attended Utah State, go Aggies! where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Business and Social Science, June 1957. Earned his Masters degree in Economics while on a teaching assistantship at the University of Florida, ‘go Gators!’ in Gainesville June 1959. During summers as he furthered his education in the 1960s towards a Doctorate degree, we were afforded the opportunity to live in different cities where he attended school.
Shorland taught at Murray High School for 28 years from 1959 – 1987. He was respected and voted ‘Teacher of the Year’ several times. After graduation, our house would get toilet papered often, which we used. Many of his students thought he should run for President of the United States. Active member of the UEA & President. Received many awards, including 1 from Governor Norm Bangerter, for “Excellence in Teaching.” Dad had numerous newspaper articles written about him over the years and was very involved in the community, including political involvement as a Democrat. He was retired for 31 years and enjoyed every day of it!
Shorland loved and had a zest for life, many interests and stayed involved in all of our lives. He was serious, fun and full of adventure. Always gave an endearing “Good Luck.” Other outside occupations were builder, carpenter, Utah farmer, small aircraft pilot, Montana rancher, developer (had a subdivision, Shoreland Heights, named after him), realtor, investor (started several companies), and janitor. Always a brilliant man, hard worker and could fix anything. Mom always said she got the “best one in his bunch.”
Shared his love of learning, enjoyment of the outdoors and nature with all of us. Hobbies and other interests include family events, snowskiing was his passion (his last season, 2007 – 2008, skied 125 days, ending his career in April with an injury of 2 cracked vertebrae and a concussion), fishing, boating (occasionally taking foreign exchange students with us), water skiing, camping, hunting, canyon cookouts, hiking, ice skating, snowmobiling, rollerblading, snowboarding, traveling, boogie boarding, cross country road trips, spending over 40 years of family time at Snowbird, visiting relatives, museums, national parks, landmarks, culture of other places and people, listening to music, working in the yard and garden. For years he was endearingly referred to as “Peter Pan.” Dad would smile at that comment, especially as he went rollerblading past. He enjoyed all scenery, clouds, sunrises, sunsets, and long drives. Playing family card games, chess, and checkers. Loved thinking games. Built a pinewood derby racetrack for the boy scouts competition that was used for years in our Granger ward and maybe is still in use.
Being an avid reader, he almost always had a magazine in his hand. Since age 9 he read the Readers Digest from cover to cover every month. Dad had a photographic memory. Hearing the song America the Beautiful and seeing our gorgeous flag would bring him to tears.
He encouraged us to try new experiences, take some risks, live our lives to the fullest. Dad was supportive and attended the events we were involved in. Try until you succeed. He accepted his losses so he could move on.
Shorland is survived by 6 children, Helen Jane, Shorla, James (Karen), Dudley (Kym), Susan, Randall (Paige); 13 grandchildren Andrew, August (Jessica), Kory (Monica), Heidi (Ryan), Corbin, Parker (Natalie), Samantha, Dustin (Ashlynd), Bailee (Brady), Brooke, Allison, Cash, Chadwick; 12 great-grandchildren Isaac, Hayden, Kaleb, Brielle, Londyn, Abigail, Harrison, Blake, Henry, Seth, Eliza, Rowan, and 1 more boy on the way; 1 brother Dan (91); 1 sister Betty (86); 2 sisters-in-law Ruth Johnson (101) and Cleo Barthule (96); many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his bride Helen L; parents; 7 brothers; 1 sister; daughter Sally (Susan’s twin); great-granddaughter Claire; son-in-laws: Stephen Higdon, Richard McCarver.
Viewing will be held Friday April 6, 6pm – 8pm. Funeral service will be held Saturday April 7 at 11am preceded by a viewing 9:30am – 10:45am. Viewings and Services will be held at Willow Creek Stake Center 2350 E Creek Rd (8200 South) Sandy, UT 84093. Interment at Memorial Mountain View 3115 E 7800 South (Bengal Blvd). In lieu of flowers, please donate to your nearest food bank.
Please take the opportunity to share a memory of Shorland at www.memorialutah.com.Service Information
Viewing April 6, 2018 at 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Willow Creek 9th Ward, 2350 Creek Road, Sandy, Utah
Viewing April 7, 2018 at 9:30 - 10:45 AM
Willow Creek 9th Ward, 2350 Creek Road, Sandy, Utah
Funeral Service
April 7, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Willow Creek 9th Ward, 2350 Creek Road, Sandy, Utah
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