Donald Eugene Hadden
1945 - 2021

 

"Don"

Donald "Don" Eugene Hadden, talented architect, loving husband, father, and extraordinary grandfather, passed away at the age of 75 on February 11, 2021, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Though slim in appearance and gentle in nature, he quietly fought every day to stay on this earth through ulcerative colitis, two liver transplants, Type 2 diabetes, and kidney failure.

Don was born May 8, 1945, in Ogden, Utah to Coe and Margaret Hadden. He graduated from Davis High School and attended Weber State College, where he met his future wife, Wan Kei Yin. Before they decided they were meant to be together, Don served in the Southern Far East Mission (Philippines, Hong Kong) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During his mission, Don by fate met his future mother-in-law in Hong Kong before being transferred to the Philippines. After returning home he attended Brigham Young University, where he reconnected with Wan Kei and obtained his degree in Sociology in 1969. After graduation, Don enlisted in the US Air Force and was sent to Vietnam, where he taught English on the US Air Force base. Upon finishing his tour, Don returned home to marry his love, Wan Kei, in the Salt Lake Temple on September 11, 1971. After completing his military service in Fort Worth, Texas, and after having his first child (Anthony), they returned to Utah to obtain his Master of Architecture from the University of Utah. Four years later, they were blessed with another son (Jeremy) and a daughter (Renata) four years after. He took great pride in raising his three children.

After obtaining his Masters Degree, he worked at several architecture firms around the Salt Lake Valley and for the federal government at Hill Air Force Base. He eventually left Hill and opened his own firm specializing in residential architecture with his wife, Wan Kei. He loved simple, clean modern architecture. Many of his designs can be seen along the Wasatch front.

In August of 1996, he lost his wife, Wan Kei, to cancer. Even though this was a struggle, he continued to fight his own medical battles and raise his children and was eventually blessed with 6 granddaughters. He took great pride in being a grandfather and loved being a part of their lives.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Salt Lake 6th Chinese Ward, where he was a High Priest and served valiantly in various callings.

Don was preceded in death by his wife Wan Kei and parents Coe and Margaret. He is survived by his children Anthony (Wendy), Jeremy (Vandy), Renata, granddaughters Mia, Stella, Mirae, Esmée, Gracie, and Lena, sisters Joyce (Sherman) and Claudette (Jimmy), nieces and nephews.

A public viewing will be held at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Road, (10600 South) Sandy, UT on Wednesday, February 17, from 6 pm to 8 pm. A private funeral service will be held Thursday, February 18, in Salt Lake City at 11 am. Interment will be in the Farmington City Cemetery.

Don was able to live a much longer life because of generous organ donors. We as a family would like to encourage you to become an organ donor.