June 17, 1940 – March 17, 2024

Jere Laeng Calmes, 83, of Park City, Utah, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2024 surrounded by friends.

Born on June 17, 1940, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Fred and Antoinette Calmes, Jere was a beloved father, grand-father, great grandfather, brother, and friend to many. He was a man of many accomplishments and passions.

A Life of Achievements
Jere graduated from DePauw University with a BA in History and went on to receive a master’s degree in History from the University of Kentucky. It was at De-Pauw that he met his first wife, Bonnie Fields (Oeler), and they were married in 1962.

Jere’s career in publishing took a unique turn when he worked for Holt, Rinehart & Winston in New York City. There, in a decision against his manager’s will that almost got him fired, he signed an author for an economics textbook that became a massive global success, generating millions for his company ultimately leading to multiple editions in several languages.

This act of defiance earned him recognition as the company’s best employee and a trip to Barbados; Jere opted instead for a trip to Park City, Utah and pursued his love for mountains.

In 1975, Jere moved his family to Park City, a place that would become his true home, even though he remained a Yankees fan until the end. He became a successful entrepreneur, as an owner / manager of the Corner Store, Main Street Deli, and Le Pavilion.

A Pillar of the Park City Community
Jere’s influence extended far beyond his businesses. He served as the Master of Ceremonies at Ernie’s Rodeo, reflecting his love for horses and the Western spirit. Notably, he was also the first President of the Park City Chamber of Commerce and played a pivotal role in the restoration of the Egyptian Theater on Main Street. He was influential in bringing the Sundance Film Festival to Park City (origi-nally known as the US film festival).

Along with his business and community leadership skills he was also a talented performer. He graced the stages of Park City Performances in various plays and musicals, but his most memorable role was playing Felix Unger opposite Lloyd Steven in Neil Simon’s “The Odd Cou-ple.” He also hosted a Sunday morning radio show on KPCW with Ron Burnett and David Fleischer aptly named ‘The Morning After’ where his listeners tuned in to hear the latest ‘bagel report.

His adventurous spirit led him to post-Soviet Russia where he became a visiting professor at the American Institute of Business and Economics (AIBEc).

Later, In the mid 90’s his adventurous spirit led him to an 18-month career as a commercial truck driver for C. R. England Trucking Company. Jere found his way back to publishing in 2000, working for Entrepreneur magazine.

A Man of Passion and Love
Jere’s life was enriched by his love for the snow, the mountains, skiing and the company of friends and family. He especially cherished Sunday dinners and he enjoyed a good scotch on the rocks (neat if a single-malt).

Traveling the world and delving into history, particularly World War II and the Civil War, were also passions he pursued with enthusi-asm. Jere had a deep appreciation for folk music, especially Irish ballads. He could often be found in great Park City watering holes like Adolph’s, Sneakers or The Down Under harmonizing with his friends.

Speaking of harmonizing, Jere will also be remembered for his fearless conducting of St. Mary’s Choir (an eclectic bunch of holiday revelers who loved to sing car-ols) each Christmas Eve for Father Pat’s midnight mass. To know Jere was to know his quirks, he wasn’t a fan of smartphones, streaming TV services, the ever-present traffic on Main Street, or California license plates to name a few.

Jere’s memory lives on with his daugh-ter, Erin, and son, Jere (Yana). He is also cherished by his grandchildren Anton (Alyssa, Paulina, Matvey, Mikaela, and Jere Oliver, his great-granddaughter Caroline, and his nephews David and Doug. Jere was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Tony, and his brother Fred (Lynn).

A viewing will be held from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM at Heber Valley Funeral Home (288 N Main Street, Heber City, Utah, 84032) on Wednesday, March 27th, with a service to follow at 3:00 PM. The interment at the Heber City Cemetery will occur shortly thereafter. An after service gathering will be held at The Corner Store at the Park City Resort at 5:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Jere’s favorite charity – the Wounded Warriors Project.