Phillip John Janson

Phillip John Janson of Idaho Falls, Idaho passed away on 14 Aug. 2023 in Twin Falls, Idaho. Phillip John Janson was born on 4 Jan. 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, the fifth child of Alonzo Delmar Janson Sr. and Sarah “Sally” Laverne Baggeson Janson. After a younger brother Anthony Brian was born his parents separated in 1956. Sally kept the baby and a child Helene from a previous marriage in Chicago and Alonzo kept the five older children and moved to Rexburg, Idaho in 1956. One of the children passed away. Later Phillip’s parents divorced. In 1957 Alonzo married Arlene Jenkins Jensen who had four children. They became a blended family and had nine more children. Life was not easy, things were tough, and Phillip suffered. In spite of this Phil was resilient and optimistic and maintained a positive attitude. He enjoyed time with his siblings in the outdoors, fishing, swimming in the canal, and riding on a car hood that was converted to a sled and pulled in the snow by an automobile. Phillip attended elementary school, junior high, LDS seminary and high school in Rexburg. As a youth he decided to go out on his own and went to California where he graduated from high school. Phillip returned to Rexburg and attended Ricks College. He then served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the eastern United States including Maine and Boston, Massachussetts. After his mission he attended BYU-Provo and got married. He also went to flight school and became a licensed pilot. He enjoyed flying planes whenever he could. After his first marriage failed, Phillip met and later married Karen Cromar on 7 Jan. 1988. They had five children and later divorced. He married and divorced twice after that. Phillip was not afraid of hard work and would give his best efforts to any job he did. He worked for many years as a painter and handyman and moved often to where he found work. Phillip enjoyed eating ice cream, traveling, camping, reading, writing essays and books, watching old television shows and movies, and visiting with family and friends in person or on the telephone. Phillip is survived by his ex-wife Karen Janson of Blackfoot, children, Sarah Janson of Twin Falls, Hope Janson of Twin Falls, and Adam Janson of Twin Falls, Ruth Seegmiller (Shawn) of Buckeye, Arizona and Miriam Harmon (Samuel) of Mesa, Arizona, siblings Alonzo Janson Jr. of Las Vegas, Nevada, Dennis Janson of San Jacinto, California, Laura Berrett (Spencer) of Casa Grande, Arizona, Max Janson of Rexburg, Sherwin Kay Janson (Diana) of Idaho Falls, Daleicia Walker (Robert) of Rexburg, Tralelda Chase of Springville, Utah, Micheal Janson (Melissa) of Idaho Falls, Fauneil Schultz (Bryan) of Rexburg, Seth Stephen Janson of Idaho Falls, Stefanie Pettingill (Monte) of St. Anthony, Jeffery Janson (Amy) of Idaho Falls. Phillip was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Phyllis Ann Janson, Valerie Jean Janson, Marsha Gallup, and brothers Kenneth Leroy Janson and Walter Dale Janson. A Memorial service will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday August 26, 2023 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Lincoln First Ward building, 3800 E Lincoln Road, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401.