After battling cancer, Rodney Despain, an American Fork City planner for over three decades, passed away earlier this week surrounded by his family. The mayor of American Fork City, James H. Hadfield, who was immediately informed of Mr. Despain’s passing Monday morning, expressed his sadness during a City Council meeting Tuesday, announcing the viewing and funeral dates.

Born July 18, 1938, in St. George to Irvin Dale Despain and Margaret Domgaard, the second of five children, he graduated from Brigham Young High in Provo, did a stint in the U.S. Coast Guard, started his college education at Utah State University and served an LDS mission in the Southern States. It is while he attended BYU that he met his sweetheart Dolores Jean Sanders, and married her in the Manti Temple on September 20, 1962.

After graduating from BYU, Mr. Despain did his graduate work in urban planning at Michigan State. He returned to Utah to partner with his father in their firm Despain and Despain Consulting. During his career as a city planner, he worked for many cities throughout Utah, but spent the last thirty-five years primarily as the city planner for American Fork.

His family said that anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Despain knew he was an honest, caring and loving man.

An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he served faithfully in many church callings and was a passionate genealogist.

He liked to fish, hunt, and canoe, but his favorite past time was river running, especially on the Salmon River, his family said. What made the outdoors so special to him was sharing those moments with his kids, grandkids and good friends. But he also loved working in his woodshop and always had some “project” in the works.

Finally, he loved good music, especially that by his kids and grandkids. He lived a rich life full of fond memories, great friendships and a family that loves him deeply.

Rodney is survived by his sweetheart Dolores and their four children: S. Matthew Despain (Tuzie), Norman, Oklahoma; Lisa DeSpain, New York, New York; Kirsten Despain-Silver (David), Parker, Colorado; and Robin DeSpain Carson (Richard), Provo. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Kalin Despain, Camryn “Rocky” Despain, and Kathryn Shiori “Boo” Carson, and by his siblings K. Dale Despain, Kathryn Bush, Kim Despain, and Diane Worthington. He is preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held Friday, January 11, 2013, at 11:00 a.m., at the Orem Lakeview 8th Ward chapel, 165 West 1600 South, Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held the night prior, Thursday, January 10, 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Walker Sanderson Mortuary, 646 East 800 North, Orem, Utah. Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery, 4800 North 650 East, Provo, Utah. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walkersanderson.com

Danny Crivello can be reached at crivello@citizen.af, via text at 801-477-6397 or on Twitter.

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