Theodore "Teddy" Lynn Nemelka

Teddy—our beloved son, brother, grandson, cousin and friend—unexpectedly passed away in his sleep at his parents’ home in Springville, Utah on the morning of June 16, 2016, due to complications from tonsillitis. He was 19 years old.

Teddy was born on February 28, 1997 in Orem, Utah to David Nephi Nemelka and Arianne Bateman. He attended school in Mapleton, Utah; the Munich International School in Munich, Germany; and graduated from Springville High School and LDS Seminary in 2015. After graduation, he enrolled at Utah Valley University and worked as a customer service representative for Vivint Smart Home at the time of his passing.

Teddy was an Eagle Scout and participated in the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Washington, D.C. He was an active member of his church and had set a date to serve a two-year mission for his faith. Above all, Teddy was a philanthropist at heart. He committed countless hours of service to his church and community, including numerous hours at his local food pantry, Tabitha’s Way in Spanish Fork, Utah. He was a participant with Youthlinc, a charity committed to developing youth into lifelong philanthropists. Teddy enthusiastically travelled to villages in Peru and Kenya to serve local children and their families. He was always a willing hand to help neighbors and friends in need and did so with his trademark happy smile and positive spirit. He was a world traveler and visited many countries with his family. He and his four siblings developed a deep mutual love and unbreakable family bond as they explored and experienced new cultures and ways of life.

Teddy was a voracious reader of the science fiction and high fantasy genres. He loved playing games of all varieties—ranging from airsoft and paintball to board games, card games, video games, and role-playing games. His appreciation and enjoyment of the outdoors was sparked working on a family friend’s farm in Montana during a high school summer break. He also loved helping his namesake, Grandpa Lynn, on his ranch in Boulder, Utah. Teddy enjoyed many outdoor adventures with his family, culminating in the fall of 2015 with a three week, 150-mile backpacking trip in the Mackenzie Mountains (located in the Northwest Territories just below the Artic Circle in Canada) with his father, brother Zachary, and sister Alexandria.   In memory of Teddy and the goodness that he represents, a beautiful wilderness lake where he backpacked has been renamed “Chance and Teddy Lake.”

Teddy was a kind and loving young man with a big heart and big smile who marched to his own drummer and enjoyed a good laugh. He is survived by his parents, David and Arianne Nemelka of Springville, Utah; his sisters, Alexandria of Denver, Colorado and Eliza and Claire of Springville, Utah; his brother, Zachary of Springville, Utah; his grandmother, Ingrid Nemelka and grandparents Lynn and Joan Bateman of Mapleton, Utah. He is preceded in death by his grandfather, David R. Nemelka (“Opa”) who he has now joined in an epic Settlers of Catan game.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 25th at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Chapel on 2375 River Bottom Road, Springville, Utah 84663. Family and friends may also pay their respects there from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the funeral services and on Friday, June 24th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East, 200 South, Springville, Utah. Interment will be at Mapleton Cemetery, 620 W. Maple Street in Mapleton, Utah.

In lieu of flowers the Nemelka family requests that you go to www.youthlinc.org/tednemelka and make a donation to the Teddy Nemelka Memorial Fund to support youth in their philanthropic services.

Condolences may be sent to www.wheelermortuary.com.