One day on Jan. 25, 1938, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, a cute little baby boy was born. The name on his birth certificate was Thayne Garland Brower, a name he would go by after joining the Navy. In his early years, however, he was known as Thayne Wahl.
Thayne was the son of Verla R. Wardell and Duane C. Clark, and his stepfather, Otto W. Wahl. Thayne would grow up an only child but had a large family of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. In later years, Thayne was excited to discover that he had three half-siblings.
Thayne married his sweetheart and eternal companion, Ellen Lucille Harmon, in the Idaho Falls Temple on Aug. 23, 1957. Together they had 11 children, 25 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren (with number 24 on the way). After high school, and before marrying Ellen, Thayne joined the Navy. During those military years, the family moved from Idaho to Hawaii, California, Washington, and, upon retirement, eventually to Utah.
In the Navy, Thayne served as a Chief Petty Officer and got to sail around the world, though he didn’t see much of it because he was on a submarine. As a Vietnam War veteran, Thayne had the opportunity to go on a Utah Honor flight to Washington D.C. While there, he was able to touch the engraving for his cousin Jack on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
After retiring from the Navy, Thayne spent many great years working for Provo City. He managed the Provo Parks and Recreation Center, as well as the Veteran’s Memorial Swimming Pool. Later on he became director for the Eldred Senior Citizens’ Center, which was one of his favorite places to work.
Thayne usually worked two or three jobs at a time to support his large family. When the new Provo Recreation and Senior Center was built in 2013, Thayne was extended a special invitation to attend its opening.
Throughout his life, Thayne loved to sing. During high school he sang in a quartet, next in the Navy Choir, and later on for different church and work activities. Thayne loved to entertain and make people laugh. He participated in many parades and at various other venues as “Rusty the Clown.” He also loved to garden, go camping, play racquetball and ride horses.
During the concluding years of his life, Thayne, along with several family members, located to Wales, Utah. At one time he even served as the city’s mayor. It is in Wales where Thayne will be laid to rest with his wife and his son, Johnathon.
Thayne had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and enjoyed serving in many church callings, including as a worker in the Manti Temple.
On April 20, 2022, at the age of 84, Thayne was welcomed to the other side by his wife, Ellen; his tenth child, Johnathon, whom he called his tithing baby; his parents and stepfather; his second stepfather, Darrell Staples; his sister, Linda Clark Stoddard; and many other friends and relatives.
Surviving are Thayne’s children: Carrie, Cathy, Bryan, Barbara, Susan, Bill, Mike, Jennie, Tracy, and James. Thayne is also survived by his grandchildren (some of whom regard him as a dad); his great-grandchildren; his sister, Sandra Clark Stoddard; brother, Dale Clark; his honorary sisters, Sandra Gunning and Elizabeth Brower Pack; and all those who married into the Brower family.
Thayne is so loved by his family and friends, and will be missed very much.
A viewing for family and friends will be held Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church at 92 South 200 West in Wales, Utah, followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. Burial will be in the Wales Town Cemetery.
For those unable to join us in person, services will be streamed live here: https://www.facebook.com/wheelermortuary.
