Jerome Jonas

Jerome Emil Jonas Jr. 72 went to meet his parents and brothers at the gates of Heaven on January 4, 2018 Born October 8, 1945 in Richardton North Dakota to Jerome and Anna (Dewald) Jonas he was the youngest in the family After graduating high school he joined the navy in 1965 and became a Seabee for 4 years and had a soldiers heart, Jerome served in Vietnam where he received a citation from John J Hyland Admiral of the US Navy for resupplying illumination ammunition to a mortar crew, continuously exposed himself to enemy fire as a result the field of battle was continuously illuminated which ultimately led to total defeat of enemy forces, he also received from the Department of Defense a certificate of achievement. While in Vietnam being exposed to and experiencing many dangerous, frightening uncontrollable events which left him with PTSD that he lived with till the end of life after being exposed to agent orange while in Vietnam is what took a toll on him giving him pancreatic cancer the spread through his body until his body could take no more Uncle Junior enjoyed woodworking building birdhouses, bicycles, and everything else he would think of. He loved his scroll saw making most beautiful pictures you have ever seen. Trading patterns and ideals with his brother Willie (my uncle) even though they were miles apart they spoke often and even face timed each other just before his death so they could say their goodbyes. He loved working in the yard and feeding wild animals, everyday he would feed the deer oats that came to visit him twice a day. He also loved feeding the squirrel’s they would come sit on his lap and take food right out of his hand. Uncle junior also loved to fish and the fish stories he could tell and he knew how to tell them. When I would visit we would spend hours on the water fishing and enjoying each other’s company. If I wasn’t visiting him we would be on the phone at least once a week if not more talking for hours and never run out of things to talk about. His nickname for me was angel and that’s how he would introduce me to people by asking if they ever met an angel. Well you have one standing right here in front of you. And now he will be my guardian angel Jerome is survived by his wife Barbara, his brother Wilfred (Willie) and wife Bonnie, his fishing partner and niece Pauline (Bob) Helms along with numerous nephews and nieces Preceded in death by his parents and brothers Edward, Richard, and Christopher. Uncle Junior you may be gone but you will always be remember for your kind and loving soul by everyone that knew you. You will never be forgotten we all love you A Christian Burial with Military Honors will be 10am, June 1, 2019 at Calvary Cemetery, 1405 S. 24th Ave; Yakima, WA. 98902 Thank you Tom Mowery at Valley Hills Funeral Home for your help with the arrangements To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jerome Jonas, please visit our flower store.