Joshua Byron Spilker

Joshua Byron Spilker

1980 ~ 2021

Joshua Byron Spilker, loyal husband, loving father, brother, son, friend, and so much more, found peace in the presence of his Savior at 7:59pm on Friday, January 8, 2021, at his home in Kaysville, Utah, surrounded by an earthly army of angels and an heavenly army of angels who loved him earnestly and kept constant vigil with him in his final trial with metastatic melanoma. Josh was 40 years old.

Born on May 28, 1980, son of Byron Melvin Spilker and Deon Johnstun Spilker, Josh was taught to love and care for his many family members and friends. Josh was the epitome of big brother for his siblings Heidi Spilker Atkin (Joseph Sterling Atkin), Zacary Carl Spilker (Erin Fowler Spilker), Katie Spilker Mansell, and Callie Spilker O’Toole (Jordan Nelson O’Toole), vehemently loving at times and an inglorious tease at other times.

Josh attended West High School where he made many lifelong friends. He subsequently attended Snow College, LDS Business College, the University of Utah (BA, Accounting), and Westminster College (MBA). Josh faithfully served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Bacolod, Philippines mission, making many lifelong friends through service.

In his first semester at Snow College Josh met the love of his life, Jennifer Jensen Spilker (Jenny), daughter of Kim Lyndon Jensen and Marilyn Hansen Jensen. Jenny and Josh were married on December 28, 2001 in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple and their forever family began. Jenny is Josh’s eternal love and his guardian angel. Josh recently described Jenny as his, “whole reason for living and the reason why he was able to continue living through his (physical) trials.”

In due time Josh and Jenny were blessed with four children. Madison Elaine Spilker (16) loved to go on long drives with her Dad who was teaching her how to drive, Easton Joshua Spilker (14), who got the biggest hug from his Dad after hitting the game winning double in Cooperstown, New York, Brooklyn Emmi Spilker (11), has been learning soccer and softball skills from the best coach and Dad, and Boston James Spilker (7) the golfer extraordinaire who loved his recent 9 holes with Dad at Swan Lakes Golf Course. Josh loved his family fiercely and was involved in every one of their hobbies, their passions became his passions.

Josh’s lasting legacy lives in his children who carry his insatiable appetite to make others’ lives better. Even as he struggled physically, Josh taught his family to serve their friends and family, their God, and the strangers they have never met.

Josh was not often interested in sharing the personal details of his journey with cancer because he was so much bigger than his diagnosis or the problems he was experiencing. Instead, Josh was an outdoorsman who loved coaching his kids’ sports teams, he loved pickleball, baseball, soccer, basketball, traveling, hunting, fishing and boating. He loved his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and served honorably in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Josh thrived in his work as an accountant. He has been abundantly blessed to work for Academia West and Apex West, incredible companies that have supported him and his family in every possible way.

Josh is additionally survived by his Brother In-Law Michael Kim Jensen (Autumn Carrington Jensen), Sister In-Law Lori Jensen Birrell (Michael Scott Birrell), his Oma, Christa Dorothea Schmelter Spilker and Opa, Melvin Frank Spilker, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Josh and his family have experienced many tender mercies. We are forever grateful for the doctors and nurses at the University of Utah and Huntsman Cancer Institute and the many friends, family, and neighbors. We are eternally grateful to the angels who helped him orchestrate his final day on Earth, a miracle in itself. Josh did not lose his battle with cancer, he fought fervently and gained everlasting life with his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. If you knew Josh, you are a better person for it.

There will be a public viewing at Russon Mortuary in Farmington, Utah on Wednesday, January 13 from 5pm-9pm. Please make every effort to come at times as indicated: last name beginning A-F 5pm-6pm, last name beginning G-L 6pm-7pm, last name beginning M-R 7pm-8pm, last name beginning S-Z 8pm-9pm. Due to current health concerns, please follow all guidelines as it relates to mask wearing and social distancing. The family kindly requests no handshakes or hugs.

Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, January 14, 2021, preceded by a family viewing and prayer at 9:30am. Those wishing to participate can do so by watching a live broadcast on the Russon Mortuary Facebook Page. Live attendance is by invitation only. Josh’s final resting place will be the Salt Lake City Cemetery, among the many family members and ancestors that have preceded him.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Josh’s family via Venmo @jenny-spilker or the Joshua Spilker Memorial Fund at Mountain America Credit Union.

Click here for link to Facebook live of service:  https://www.facebook.com/Russon-Mortuary-Crematory-105412734572327