Joe Kaianuanu Lomu

Joe Kaianuanu Lomu, surrounded by his loving family passed away peacefully at home in Eagle Mountain, Utah on June 15, 2024, after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was born on September 14, 2005, in West Valley City, Utah to Barbara and Papa Lomu. Joe is #4 of 9 kids. He started out in West Jordan before moving to Eagle Mountain in July of 2016. Joe was a true lover of sports and was talented athletically. If there ever was a thing, he is known for he has the biggest heart. Heart as in loyalty. Heart as in family. Heart as in being a man's man. Heart as in Lion. Heart as in love for his brothers and cousins to teammates but none more than HEART for all his sisters. He loved to play video games with his friends and family. Hanging out and going to the movies or late night runs to the Maverick or Chevron gas station for some snacks and goodies. If you knew Joe and was his friend, you knew a fun-loving kid. He loved to laugh and be with family. He loved to dance and goof off with his siblings especially his sisters Ana Lavoni, Esita, Kesa, and Christina. Joe loved to go and watch his siblings play sports. It started with Ofa when he played football and rugby. Joe was a big fan of all his siblings, but Ofa showed him how to run the ball. Meti in his rugby matches, Stranz in his football games. Joe loved these 2 and worried about them. One day they will make it alright. But his favorite was his sisters Ana Lavoni, Sita, Kess, and Tina bear. They are his favorite rugby players and every time they played Joe would sit on his phone for hours just watching their videos from the game. He would then give a detailed analysis on what they could do better. He could break down film and give some great input for them to get better. Tina bear in her wrestling matches and Kesa in her rugby games Joe would sit there and watch their videos and be in tears. He loved their growth and saw their talent for sports. Not only were they girly pretty girls but they could hold their own in wrestling and rugby. He also said Tina bear "will be the best ever." Joe played little league football for Westlake and Cedar Valley. His first year his coaches played him as a lineman at center and nose guard. Joe's dad wasn't happy with the coach's decision and after telling the coaches that Joe is a running back Joe insisted to his dad that he's ok. He is fine with playing center and nose guard. This is where he first learned how tough it is for the big boys up front. That the ball runner really can only succeed because of a great line. Even when knowing his potential to run the ball he waited his turn and did his job blocking and loved it. When he did get his opportunity to run, he never looked back. In the 8th grade while playing for Cedar Valley he was a big part in helping the team win the Championship. In 2021 during his sophomore year in high school his beloved grandpa 'Ofa suddenly passed away. Though it was a very difficult time for his family Joe knew sports in any capacity can ease the pain and start the healing process. On the day his grandpa died Joe still went to practice preparing for his game that weekend. As a sophomore they pulled him up to varsity and being a young kid and with all the emotions of pain and loss to the excitement of getting called up to varsity. Him playing in that game brought back the norm. He had us cheering and smiling again. Made the process of healing sooner and so much easier. Even in his pain he held up all the family. He was very close to his grandpa Ofa. Joe went on to have a great career at Cedar Valley. He is the career rushing leader and shares the single game rushing record he set as a sophomore. He was excited to run like hell his senior season behind the big boys up front blocking for him. But as life has its curveballs, he would not get that chance. On January 12, 2023, Joe was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. A form of bone cancer. An injury to his left knee at the end of the football season started the process of finding out his diagnosis. And now is the real fight. He began chemotherapy right away. Anyone that knows cancer and chemo it is very draining to the body. It is a tough process for the body and mind. Physically and mentally draining. Joe in all his pain still was able to smile. During treatments Joe suffered another huge loss. His sweet grandma Like suddenly passed away. She was one of his biggest supporters and was the main reason Joe is a proud son of Tongan heritage. He loved Tongan hymns and his grandpa Leva and grandma Like taught him and all his cousins several of their favorite hymns in Tongan. When grandma first heard of Joe's diagnosis, she came to the house right away and set up camp to show love and support for Joe. Even after her loss he stayed strong with his grueling chemotherapy schedule. All while sneaking in a smile every so often. His infectious smile was his trademark. You could see his smile from a mile away. With the cancer in his left knee, he opted to have the rotation plasty surgery where they amputated his leg. Even after losing his leg, he still was full of life. If you know Joe, running and playing any sport was one of his favorite things in life. Content isn't the right word, but Joe understood his new reality. And although one of his joys was taken away, he knew that there was much more to life than lay ups and touchdowns. He finished his 8 rounds of chemo earlier this year and rang the bell at Primary Childrens signaling his completion. Joy and happiness. Time to go home and stay. Excited Joe hit the gym and started working out. He loved to exercise and lift weights. He was back to hanging out with his family and friends. And only 1 month later he began to feel pain in his back. A trip to the doctors confirmed our worst fears. Not only did the cancer return but it was much more aggressive. He had emergency surgery to remove part of his back/vertebrae because the cancer was starting to pinch his spinal cord. It seemed every visit to the doctors from then on was just to hear bad news. Joe could never catch a break. The cancer quickly spread to his right arm and his right lung. His pain was intolerable. Still, he smiled. No surprise that he is the one consoling everyone who would visit him. Again, all heart. Joe's middle name KAIANUANU was a name given to his warrior forefather from the first King of Tonga, King Tupou 1. It is a family name descended generations to Joe's great great grandpa's little brother Siofilisi Kaianuanu. Joe's uncle(dad's little brother) and Joe carry the name along with Grandma Ana's brother Siofilisi and his son Soso. As told by our forefathers a great battle in Pea during the civil war in the 1830's the King as he was fighting came under gunfire. Suddenly he was tackled by an unknown warrior. This warrior took the bullet meant for the King. While on the ground the King asked why he tackled him. As the warrior opened his mouth to respond blood gushed from his mouth. The King now realized that he tackled him to protect him. Right then and there the King called him KAIANUANU. A name that has been with our family since that day. KAIANUANU held and swallowed blood in his mouth in silence and only let it out to respond to the King. He had a distinctive scar on his face. A scar he was proud to claim so that the King can be on his throne. Kaianuanu literally translates to English "Eat spit" but knowing where the name came from, we know it means much more. Joe took it all. Kept his mouth closed and the pain tucked away. As Kaianuanu did with King Tupou the First, keeping his mouth closed, holding in his pain, and swallowing all the blood from his wound, generations later his legacy was again brought forth through Joe. Joe is KAIANUANU. One of four with this sacred name in our family. From a warrior lineage who put God and country first to a simple high school kid who was always comforting everyone else. Always asking why everyone is making a big deal over him. He felt he was always ok and that everyone had bigger issues and family duties to tend to than worry about him. Not thinking about himself but about you. All of you that visited him, included him in your family prayers, text, calls, fundraisers, and everything you did to help ease his and our family pain. Never masking his pain but smiling through it. Now he is pain free and running like hell through the eternities. #RunForever #44ever #LomuStrong #Saulid #Kaianuanu Joe is preceded in death by his little brother baby Mamu. His grandpa Ofa Lomu. Grandma Like Tui'asoa and Uncle George Tui'asoa. He is survived by his parents Papa and Barbara. Siblings Ofa, George, Ana Lavoni, Sita, Kesa, Hameti, Stranz, and Tina Bear. His aunty Vika Faiana and husband Heamasi Pinomi and their kids Rosaline married to Christopher Keilani and their kids Joseph, Joshua, Soteria, Chantelle, Savanah, and Shilo. Joseph Pinomi. Chantelle married to Falemaama Tuipulotu and their son Mason. Fononga husband Ash and their daughter Charlotte. Ema, Vaioleti, Ofa, and the youngest Jairo. The Lehi Lomu's his uncle Moe Lomu aunty Ampee and their kids Jordis, Lavi, Finau, Vikachoo and baby Ky. Uncle Joe Lomu, aunty Siu and their kids Keiliana and husband Bubba. Rosie, her son baby Mase, Saia, Charlie, Paparoo, Leonidas, and Hezzy. His favorite uncle and aunty duo the Vakapuna's aunty Kesa and uncle Fainga. Their son Fui. (Go Corner Canyon!) Uncle Meti Lomu and aunty Lissa and their kids Ema Luisa, Ronny, and Shawn. Uncle Finau Sikahema Lomu aunty Peti and their boys Momo and Paki. His uncle Wes Tui'asoa, Aunty Popo and their kids Irie married to Kai and their baby Isaac. Isaac, Wallace, and Viola . Uncle Stanz Tui'asoa, Aunty Nia and their kids Wesley, Kauata, Ma'ele, Roc, Tai, and Kumora. Aunty Kauata, uncle Tefua Bloomfield and their kids Tevita, his daughter Caleah, Tuaileva and his kids Fua and Filita. Keti and his kids Mele Lapulou, Memi, Laite, and Solo. Mikey and his girls Loseli and Selu. Filita married to Neni Kavapalu and their daughter Seini(QueenB). Selu, Bubba Tabile, and their boys Roman and Mariano. Soni, Fina, and their twins Rocky and Leva. Jerrex, Keilene, and their boys Carlos and Vilaketi. And last but not least of the Bloomfield tribe our very own Sita Bita. Aunty Tina and Uncle Kina Fangupo and their kids Moses, Alisi, Pisila, Elder Fangupo,(serving in Tonga) Vita, Mele Langi, Sela Papua, and Tame. Uncle Joey Tui'asoa and Aunty Vai and their kids Tu'a his wife Breezy and Sandy. Aunty Lupe and uncle Peti Mo'ungloa and their kids Lolua, Moni poni, Mele Sa'ili, Geoffrey, Uanita, Taufa, and Filita. Joe also wants to point out that his mom had the BEST of the BEST sisters. #IYKYK A huge thank you to Primary Childrens Hospital. Dr. Fair, Dr. Poppy, and all the staff, nurses, and surgeons. To all of region 10 for Utah High School Sports thank you. His coaches at Cedar Valley coach Z, coach Vincent, coach Bird, coach Linde and all the rest of the coaches and staff.

Joe Kaianuanu Lomu

September 14, 2005 - June 15, 2024