William LaFonzo Zollinger

William “Bill” LaFonzo Zollinger passed peacefully at his home surrounded by family December 30, 2024, at the age of 88 in St. George, Utah. Bill was born August 14, 1936, in Logan, Utah, to LaFonzo and Camille Zollinger. He attended Ellis Elementary School, Logan Junior High School, and graduated in 1954 from Logan High School.

From 1956 to 1959, Bill served in the Swiss Austrian Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved his mission and enjoyed attending subsequent missionary reunions to reunite with friends. In the mid-1980’s, when Bill and Karen traveled to his mission area, Bill was excited to reconnect with a woman he had baptized during his mission. 

Upon his return home from his mission, Bill was immediately drafted into the U.S. Army. He completed basic training at Fort Ord, serving for 3 years in the National Guard. In July 1962, he received an honorable discharge from the Army National Guard of Utah.

In 1960, Bill married Nikki Monson in Logan, Utah. They have three sons, Thor, Eric, and John. Their family lived in Dillon, Montana and Providence, Utah. They divorced in 1975. 

Bill married Karen Taylor Sullivan in 1976 in Logan, Utah. Karen has two children from her previous marriage, Leslie and Jim. Bill and Karen have two sons, Jeffrey and David. Bill and Karen worked hard to blend their families and were successful in creating wonderful memories for all seven children. Bill and Karen lived in Millville, Utah for 14 years before moving to St George, Utah in 1990. 

Bill worked for Zollinger Cold Storage, the family business, in Logan, Utah. Later, after moving to St. George, Bill started the Fire and Safety Company and enjoyed traveling throughout southern Utah as he recharged and sold fire extinguishers.

In 2005, Bill and Karen served an 18 month family history mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Columbia, South Carolina. They worked at the South Carolina Archives and microfilmed documents from the 1800’s. They loved their work and made many lifelong friends. 

Bill had a love for wood turning and furniture making. He made and gifted amazing bowls and pens to friends and family. All of his children have custom crafted pieces of furniture that he made. 

Bill and Karen traveled to many places around the world, but home was always Bill’s favorite place to be. He had a special connection to his ancestors and enjoyed telling stories about his grandparents. A highlight of his life was working for 12 years as a volunteer in the St. George Temple at the recommend desk. He loved greeting people and seeing friends. Bill had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and was a faithful lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Bill is survived by his wife Karen, children Thor (Susan) Zollinger, Eric (Shauna) Zollinger, John (Mindy) Zollinger, Leslie (Keith) Amsden, Jeffrey (Eliza) Zollinger, and David (Cristina) Zollinger. He is also survived by his sisters Diane Smith and Darnell Jeffs, brothers Richard (Janice) Zollinger and Blaine (Chloe) Zollinger and a daughter- in-law, Pam Sullivan. He is survived by 15 grandchildren and step-grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents LaFonzo and Camille Zollinger, brothers-in-law Dean Jeffs and Roland Smith, and stepson James Merlin Sullivan. 

A viewing will take place Sunday, January 5, 2025, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the St. James Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1095 St. James Lane. A viewing will also be held Monday, January 6, 2025, at 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the same location. The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Directly after the service, interment with Military Honors will be held at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive St. George, UT 84770

A special thanks to Dixie Home for their kind and loving care towards Bill and his family.