John Abel Greenwood, Sr., 82, of Ivins, Utah, passed away on Jan. 6, 2024, after a full and adventurous life. Never one to quit, John persevered in kidney dialysis for the last 5 years.
John was the eldest of four children. Born in Oregon on June 25, 1941, he was an avid player of baseball and soccer. With his younger brother, John enjoyed building and tuning hot rods in the driveway of his parents’ home. Flames sometimes occurred (John’s mother was a patient woman). As a young man, and throughout his life, John enjoyed achieving exceptional performance from his succession of BMW road cars.
Possessing a keen mind and the willingness to use it, John worked in the surveying profession as a Licensed Land Surveyor. He later adapted these skills to help Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois conduct high-energy particle physics research.
It was during this time that John actively received instruction in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and made a full conversion.
After retiring from Fermilab and relocating to Ivins, Utah, John achieved a spot on the Senior Olympic Cycling Team. He was able to advance into increasingly competitive tiers of this demanding sport.
John had a powerful intellect without the arrogance that sometimes accompanies this gift. He adored his pride of cats, and they returned his affections.
John is predeceased by his parents; Lennita his first wife and the mother of his children; sister Ann; second wife Jo’an. John is survived by his two children John Jr. and Heather (Richard); brother Charles (Lea) and sister Maggie (Tony). John is also survived by his two step-children Matthew (Getta) and Theodore (Jennifer); three grandchildren Hannah (Dylan), James (Yanni) and Evan; and his three nephews and two nieces.
Services will be held at noon on Saturday , Jan. 20, at Ivins City Chapel at 15 Main St. A viewing will be held prior to services from 11-11:45 am. Interment will be in the Ivins City Cemetery.
Condolences may be shared on the McMillan Mortuary website.