With hearts heavy with sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved Thomas Howard Harper on August 14, 2026. Born on May 9, 1944, in Anaconda, MT, to Howard Thomas Harper and Lillie Oliver Harper Zito, Thomas was a beacon of love, wisdom, and resilience. In the words of Albert Einstein, "The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive." Thomas lived this philosophy throughout his life, generously sharing his time, knowledge, and love with those around him and with those he had just met. 

Thomas moved to Ogden, Utah, where he served in the Marine Corps and the Army National Guard, which he retired from the 145th field auxiliary unit, after twenty years of combined service. Thomas built a life of significance and fulfillment. He married the love of his life, Gudrun Remmert in 1966, and together, they created a family that was his pride and joy. Thomas was employed at Utility Trailers for 15 years and then worked as an Industrial Electrician, which he dedicated over 20 years of his life to Thiokol (now Northrop Grumman), in Promontory, Utah, which he retired on 2001. Shortly after retirement, Thomas enjoyed volunteering and helping others in need. He volunteered for the Red Cross being deployed three times to help with disasters, including Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, Rita also Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, he assisted with feeding 1000 people a day for 23 days. Thomas helped locally with fires and floods providing education on disasters.Thomas also has enjoyed volunteering at the 2002 Olympics, Deer Valley International World Cup and the film festival in Park since 2003. His favorite volunteer jobs were dealing directly with people in need, including helping the troubled youth at the Weber Valley detention Center and working at Ogden Regional Medical Center in the ER for five years. He felt lucky working along side with his daughter. Even after his retirement, the lessons he learned and the friendships he made with volunteering and working remained a vital part of who he was. His dedication to his volunteer work mirrored his commitment to his family, and his legacy lives on in their shared memories.

In his spare time, he enjoyed finding and splitting logs for firewood. Many hours were spent as a family chopping wood and stacking it on the patio. Thomas also made sure he planted a big garden every year and was a great gardener. He always had fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, which he often gave to neighbors. Most enjoyable memories include taking his boat “The Party Hut” out several times a year and to Lake Powell every 4th of July. These were his favorite memories on vacation with his family. Thomas spent many hours having fun with his family and friends on his boat.

Thomas is survived by his siblings, Chad Zito and Penny Kingsley, along with many nieces and nephews. Also surviving are his children, Ben Harper, Jennifer Lowe, Jared Harper, and Heather Kirk, who will forever cherish the love, laughter, and life lessons he imparted. He is preceded in death by wife Gudrun Harper and his parents, Howard Thomas Harper and Lillie Oliver Harper Zito.

A funeral service will be held in his honor on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Country Lane Ward, 2915 West 4425 South in Roy, Utah. Viewings will be held Monday, August 24, 2026 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM and Tuesday, prior to the service from 10:00 - 10:45 AM at the County Lane Ward.

His life was a testament to the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." Thomas Harper succeeded in this and so much more.

We invite all who knew and loved Thomas to leave memories and upload photos on his memorial page at www.myers-mortuary.com. Your stories and pictures will help us all to celebrate and remember the remarkable man he was.

https://www.myers-mortuary.com/obituaries/thomas-harper-2026