Don Wayne Paulsen

With love and gratitude, we honor the life of Don Wayne Paulsen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who passed away peacefully on February 4, 2025. He was born on April 15, 1938, in Ephraim, Utah, to Joseph Donald Paulsen and Thelma Leora Olsen Dorius.

Wayne leaves behind a legacy of hard work, dedication to family, and a profound impact on the building construction industry. He married his sweetheart, Luci Beth Osmond, on August 29, 1958, in the Salt Lake Temple, and together they built a loving home filled with faith, service, and devotion. Their family grew to include six children and their spouses: Alan Wayne (Kristine Jolley), Mark Joseph (Leanne Carter), Keith Lynn (Erika Johnson), David Jay (Alba Osorio), LuAnn (Steven Snow), and Cathy (Russell Gray). Wayne warmly welcomed in-laws to the family, treating them with the same fatherly encouragement, praise, and love.

As a devoted father, Wayne instilled in his children the value of hard work and the satisfaction of building with their own hands. His love for construction was evident in his life's work, founding Wayne’s Construction Company, where he worked alongside his children. His projects—ranging from homes and churches to commercial buildings—spanned from Provo to Smithfield, a testament to his skill and reputation. The work ethic and craftsmanship he passed on to his children proved invaluable throughout their lives and service.

Wayne’s passion for building began at a young age and quickly developed into a lifelong profession. Known for his precision and quality craftsmanship, he pursued higher education, earning both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degree from Utah State University. His expertise led him to a distinguished career in education as a professor of building construction at Salt Lake Community College, a position he held for 33 years. His passion for teaching and mentoring future builders earned him the "Excellence in Teaching" Award, reflecting his deep impact on his students.

Beyond his professional achievements, Wayne was deeply committed to serving his community and church. He served on the Fruit Heights City Planning Commission and volunteered with Davis County Senior Services. Alongside Luci, he served two missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo, Illinois, where he used his building skills to restore and maintain historical sites and missionary homes. His contributions to these historic sites will be remembered for years to come.

Wayne’s other interests also positively impacted people through his life. He documented both family and friends’ histories through photography operating a photo studio in his home. He was active in family history where he and Luci dedicated spaces in their home for name extraction from microfilm and collecting family histories and artifacts. 

Wayne’s life was a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and service. His legacy lives on in the exceptional custom fine furniture, church structures, homes, skilled builders, and—most importantly—a loving family. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, children, 25 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren and niece April Turneau. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jay Theldon, and his sister, Judy.

A viewing is scheduled for Friday, February 7, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM at Russon Mortuary, 1941 North Main Street, Farmington, Utah. 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Evergreen Chapel, 2435 East Canyon Rim Drive, Layton, Utah. Prior to the service, a viewing will take place from 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM at the same location. Interment will be at the Kaysville, Utah Cemetery.

The funeral service will be streamed live on our Facebook page Russon Mortuary Live and on this obituary page, where it will appear 10-15 minutes prior to the start of the service.