Chad Christopher Hermsen

Chad Christopher Hermsen of St George, UT passed away unexpectedly on April 4, 2023, at the age of 45. He was born on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1978 to Judith Lynn Hartzell (Smith) and Christopher Mark Hermsen (deceased) in Tacoma, WA.

Chad was raised in and around the Tacoma area. His parents divorced when he was four. His mother remarried Harold Clark Hartzell on January 11, 1984. Along with his older sister and younger brother they formed a new family. Later two girls, Brieanne and Nancy Brooke were born in to their immediate family. They loved to camp, fish, play games, and be together. Chad’s biological father, Christopher remarried and had two boys, Paul and Corey. Chad graduated from Curtis High School in University Place, WA in 1996. He loved sports, particularly basketball, and played through his high school years. He was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-saints and in Boy Scouts of America. He earned his Eagle Scout Award when he was 17. After high school he started school at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT but only attended for one semester. He found Provo to his liking and moved there were he had many friends and met the woman he would marry. He married Megan Beckel of Gilroy, CA on October 23, 1999, in Gilroy. Chad subsequently joined the army on November 1, 2000 and was part of the SIGCORP. He served in Korea for a year. Later he was stationed in Fort Gordon in Augusta, Georgia. Chad and Megan had two children, a daughter named Jericho, and a son named Jaxton. In May of 2005 they were sealed together as a family. After the Army they lived in the Tacoma area, and in Puyallup, WA, where he served as a seminary teacher for a time. He also attended the Tacoma Branch of the University of Washington for a couple years but did not graduate. They then moved back to Gilroy and subsequently Hollister, CA. Chad loved the Northwest so they relocated to Bonners Ferry, ID. In 2019 Chad and Megan divorced and he moved to St George. At the time of his passing he was a manager at a Verizon Store in St George.

Chad had a great talent for winning over people and was a natural leader. He had a million friends wherever he went. He loved genuine people no matter their ethnicity, religion, or background. He was very non-judgmental. He loved teaching his children and exposing them to new cultures, foods, and experiences. He also loved the Seattle Seahawks his entire life. He was a great cook and loved trying new things. He rarely used a recipe. He loved his family very much but struggled with depression and PTSD. He tried the therapy but it didn’t really work for him and he self-medicated with alcohol a lot which is what ultimately ended his marriage.

He is survived by his children, Jaxton and Mars Raine (Jericho); his mother Judith Hartzell and his stepfather Harold Hartzell of Hurricane, UT; siblings Shawna Petersen (Israel) of Vernal, UT, Brigitte Reall (Branden) of Eagle Mountain, UT, Joshua Hartzell (Trisha Margret) of Queen Creek, AZ, Cory Hermsen of San Tan, AZ, Brieanne Elliot (Caleb) of Meridian, ID, and Brooke Young (Ransom) of Gilbert, AZ. He is preceded in death by his biological father Christopher Hermsen and his younger brother Paul Hermsen.

Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-saints at 642 N 2850 W Hurricane, UT, at 9:00 AM on Saturday, April 15th 2023. Interment will take place in the Hurricane, UT City Cemetery.