Joe Lake, who used his skills as a promoter and charity volunteer to help raise billions for children’s hospitals nationwide through the Salt Lake City-based Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, has died.
Lake died Friday at home in Cottonwood Heights, according to family, of natural causes. The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals announced his death Sunday. He was 82.
Aimee J. Daily, the nonprofit’s current president and CEO, said in a statement that the organization is “heartbroken” by Lake’s death. “His lifelong commitment to children’s health has left an indelible mark on our organization and the many families we impact,” Daily said. “His pioneering spirit and compassionate heart will forever be remembered.”
Lake teamed up with Mick Shannon, who, in 1977, had envisioned starting a national telethon to raise money for children’s hospitals. They enlisted singer Marie Osmond and actor John Schneider, best known for his role on “The Dukes of Hazzard,” to join the cause. After some false starts with national TV networks, Lake and Shannon conceived the Children’s Miracle Network.
The first Children’s Miracle Network telethon aired for 21 hours on May 28-29, 1983, on KSL. The co-hosts for the first several years were Osmond, Schneider, singer Marilyn McCoo and actor and NFL legend Merlin Olsen (who played in college at Utah State University).
Since its inception, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals says it has raised some $9 billion to support 170 children’s hospitals across the country. During the height of his career, the organization said, Lake would travel 300 days a year, visiting hospitals, meeting corporate supporters, and championing the mission of supporting children’s health.
(Children's Miracle Network Hospitals) Joe Lake, left, and Marie Osmond — both co-founders of the nonprofit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals — at an event for the network. Lake died April 4, 2025, at age 82.
“Joe’s legacy is extraordinary,” Osmond said in a statement issued through the organization. Osmond remains on the group’s board.
Lake, Osmond said, “helped create a new way of charitable giving — one that could continually improve children’s health care now and for future generations. I loved Joe dearly, and his passion and heart continue to inspire all of us.”
Joseph Gordon Lake was born June 15, 1942, in Salt Lake City. He graduated from East High School and earned two degrees — in business management and banking and finance — from the University of Utah.
He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland; for six months, his mission companion was his cousin, Bry Lake. He later served six years in the Utah Air National Guard.
In 1964, Lake married Marta Lee Johnson in the faith’s Salt Lake Temple. They were married for more than 60 years. For the past 20 years, the family’s obituary states, he had been Marta’s full-time caregiver after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Lake is survived by his wife, Marta, five children — Machelle Lake, Craig Lake, Melinda Brey, Brad Lake and Kirsten Huertas — 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, with a sixth on the way. A daughter, Marcine, died previously.
A viewing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Butler 11th Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1845 E. 7200 South, Cottonwood Heights. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 23, at 11 a.m., at the same location. Interment is planned for after the funeral at Elysian Burial Gardens, 1075 E. 4580 South, Millcreek.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals or to your local children’s hospital.
