Jonas, Peter F. Jr. 1926-2009

JONAS, DIEDRICH, RODENBOUR

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 9/30/2009 at 12:49:12

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, September 29, 2009

Peter F. Jonas Jr., 83, of Remsen, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at his home in Remsen, following a lengthy battle with prostate cancer.

Pete was born April 15, 1926, at Alton, the son of Peter F. and Eva (Diedrich) Jonas. He was raised in the Alton area and graduated from St. Mary's Academy of Alton in 1943. He farmed with his parents and helped his father with demolition using dynamite. On Oct. 6, 1950, he entered the US Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., during the Korean Conflict from 1950-1952.

On Dec. 22, 1951, he married Dorothy Rodenbour at St. Mary Catholic Church in Remsen. Pete was honorably discharged from the Army Oct. 5, 1952. The couple farmed north of Remsen for many years and moved into Remsen in 1999. He loved farming, spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Pete also enjoyed woodworking and made many things for children and others. He also enjoyed golf and loved the trips to Europe and Alaska with some of his children.

Pete was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church and American Legion Post 220 of Remsen.

Survivors include; His wife Dorothy of Remsen; Son Jeff Jonas and his wife, Sharon of Remsen; daughter Debbie Boccumini and her husband, Victor of Orlando, Fla.; daughter Andrea Mai of Orange City; daughter Mary Stene and her husband Jim of Lenexa, Kan.; son Matt Jonas of Remsen; daughter Becky Engel and her husband Matt of Coto de Caza, Calif.; daughter Nikki Schnepf and her husband Brian of Shawnee Mission, Kan.; grandchildren: Steven Jonas and his wife Nicole, Audra Jonas, Rusty Jonas and his wife Adrienne, Amber Jonas and her fiancé Luke Waldschmitt, Angela Jonas, Deanna and Erica Boccumini, Anita Mai, Theresa Budden and her husband Wes, Pat Mai and his wife Sara, Marcus Mai and his wife Brooke, Carly and Dalton Stene, Evan and Jason Engel, Max and Madeline Schnepf: great-grandchildren, Sean Muilenberg, Isabella Budden, Claire and Gabe Jonas, Brielle Mai; one sister Bernice Hastert of Alton; one brother, Al "Buddy" Jonas and his wife Clarice of Douglas, Wyo.; a sister Jean Schneider and her husband Don of Albuquerque, N.M.; and a sister Charmaine Johnstone and her husband Ross of Lake Arrowhead, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Mildred Sanders and Joanie Stanley; and three brothers, Victor Jonas, Ike Jonas and Zeno Jonas as a young child.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary Catholic Church in Remsen with the Rev. William McCarthy officiating. Burial will be in the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Remsen. Graveside military honors will be conducted by V.F.W. Post 3328, and American Legion Post 220 of Remsen. Friends may call anytime after 2 p.m. Wednesday. There will be a parish rosary at 3 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m., all at the Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.

Casket bearers will be Jeff and Matt Jonas, Wes Budden, Jim Stene, Matt Engel and Brian Schnepf.

A special thank you to The Orange City Home Health and Hospice Ladies. Without you we could not have done it.