James Spencer Heiner

James Spencer Heiner returned to his heavenly home on July 30, 2023 in Sandy, Utah after having been diagnosed with glioblastoma in December 2021.  Jim hoped he would be remembered most for his love, kindness, faith, and service to God, family, patients, friends, and strangers.

Jim was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on September 10, 1956, to Douglas Cragun Heiner and Joy Luana Wiest Heiner, the fifth of nine children.  Jim is preceded in death by his parents.  He is survived by his siblings (Susan Fuller, Craig Heiner, Joe Heiner, Marianne Hopkin, Dave Heiner, Drew Heiner, Carolee Romney, Pauli Michaels), children, and grandchildren. 

Jim attended school in Salt Lake City; Montreal, Canada; and Palos Verdes, California. During that time, he sang in madrigals choir, played piano, and excelled in sports.  He lettered in four varsity sports including tennis, soccer (captain), track (captain, 4:34 mile), and cross country and won six Ocean League Championships.  He also enjoyed playing hockey, ping-pong, and achieved intramural racquetball first places at three colleges.  He graduated from BYU (BS in Microbiology), UTMB (MD and residency in OB-GYN), and UCLA (fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology).

Jim’s most joyous experience was marrying his eternal companion, Ranae Lake, on July 1, 1978 in the Idaho Falls Temple.  Jim and Ranae feel blessed with their six good children and 15 grandchildren: Cecily, Douglas (Serena Grow and children Jaime, Benjamin, Ashley, Kelsey, Julie, Jacob), Holly (Clark Barlow and children Abigail, McKenzie, Claire, Eliza, Mason, James), Trent, Austin (Callie Thackeray and children Ruby and Daniel), and Dallas (Kimberly Pace and child Levi).  They practiced daily family dinners and prayers, weekly family nights and activities, and annual family vacations.  Jim and Ranae enjoyed many adventures during their five decades together, including hang gliding over Rio De Janeiro, snorkeling with whale sharks and dolphins, hiking, and visiting all 63 national parks, 50 states, and about 40 countries.

Jim loved nature, especially mountains, valleys, streams, oceans, the stars and the moon, the trees and flowers, wildlife, animals, and insects, which all helped him marvel at God’s creations and feel close to Him.  He enjoyed hiking, fishing, camping, running, and mountain biking.  He climbed Mt. Whitney, Kings Peak, Mt. Timpanogos and while undergoing treatment for brain cancer he summited Mt. Olympus, Sunset Peak, Mt. Nebo, and Half Dome.  He also immensely enjoyed photography, his favorite subjects being family and nature.

Jim faithfully served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his life.  He was baptized in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at age eight and completed reading the standard works along with Jesus the Christ and Articles of Faith before college.  He regularly attended four years of seminary, served a two-year mission in Paris, France, and held various callings in his local congregations (Ward Mission Leader, Sunday School President, Young Men’s leader, Special Needs leader, High Priest leader, Stake Seventy, High Council, and temple worker).  He continued reading, memorizing, and pondering scriptures daily throughout his life and sharing his faith.

Jim was goal-oriented and an excellent example of a hard worker.  As a young man he worked on ranches in the summer and later taught French to new missionaries.  He was a respiratory therapist, faculty researcher and medical professor (UCLA), and private practice physician.  He founded Reproductive Care Center, the first private IVF facility in Utah, and later developed a medical campus in Sandy where the practice now resides.  He expanded the practice with his business partner, practicing in three offices in two states where he loved helping couples with infertility to build their families.  Over the course of his career Jim was instrumental in an estimated 6,000+ miracle children.

Since cancer diagnosis and retirement, Jim has been grateful to walk and hike with dear friends, attend the temple, and dance nightly with Ranae.  Jim appreciated the expert and compassionate care of his doctors, nurses, and other caregivers throughout his cancer treatment.  His advice to those still living is to give gratitude to God for your many blessings, strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ, practice daily repentance and forgiveness, keep your covenants, and build love and unity with others -- especially with your spouse and family.  Do what you love, love what you do, and do first things first.  Spend your time maximizing your joy in life and sharing it with others.  Jim looks forward to seeing his parents and ancestors again soon, and the rest of you later!  

Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 5^th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 2535 Newcastle Drive in Sandy, Utah.  A viewing will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Friday, August 4^th at Cannon Mortuary located at 2460 Bengal Boulevard in Cottonwood Heights, Utah.  Interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens.

Funeral services will be streamed and can be accessed at 9:45 a.m. the day of the service by clicking on the following link https://zoom.us/j/92408987848