1940
Peter
2010
Peter Walter Jonas
September 28, 1940 — May 2, 2010
Munising
Peter W. Jonas, age 69, of N7030 Connors Road in Munising, died following a brief illness at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising on Sunday afternoon, May 2, 2010. He was born on September 28, 1940 to the late Walter and Esther (nee Kemp) Jonas. Peter graduated from Sacred Heart School, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and graduated Valedictorian of the Wm. G. Mather High School Class of 1958. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Michigan Tech with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics. Peter was then a Fellow at M.I.T. He taught at Radford College in Radford, VA, worked as a book rep in Arizona, lived in Milwaukee where he performed in a number of Gilbert and Sullivan productions, taught math at Muskegon Community College, and returned home to help care for his mother when his father died in 1974. Peter began his own computer programming business and worked for many years programming. He published several computer articles. Peter was a member of Sacred Heart Church and served on the Zoning Board.
Peter was a musical genius and generously shared his gift with our community. He followed in his father's footsteps who directed the Munising Vanguards for the first five years of their existence. Peter was the director for the past twenty-eight years. He started the Community Band in 2000. Peter sang at many weddings and funerals, played the trumpet and Taps for over fifty years at funerals, performed with the Marquette City Band, Superior Swing, the Dixieland Band, and with the Clown Band during the 4th of July parade. In addition to music, Peter loved to ice skate and read. He enjoyed exercising at the Rehab Center at the hospital, following the Red Wings, and traveling out West. He enjoyed studying the history of Munising and the railroad. Peter competitively traveled playing Bridge for many years reaching the level of Grand Master, and he socially played many years in the Monday night club.
Peter is survived by his brother - Frank (Karen) Jonas of Charlotte, NC; sister - Ann (Bob) Tomczyk of Milford, MI; nieces and nephews - Sarah (Julian) Garro of Raleigh, NC, Andy Jonas of the U.S. Army Special Forces - stationed in Alexandria, VA, Sheri (Chris) Edwards of Clinton Township, MI, Greg Tomczyk of Skokie, IL, and Martin (Marty) Tomczyk of Appleton, WI; and great-nephews and great-niece - Drew, Max, and Bella. Peter was preceded in death by his parents and nephew Michael Jonas.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Thursday, May 6th. The Rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. and visitation will continue until 8:00 p.m. A Parish Vigil Service and a time of prayers, songs, and sharing of memories will be at 7:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. where Father Chris Gardiner will conduct committal prayers and the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will honor Peter for his many years of dedication to their services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Peter are requested to the Munising Vanguards or the Community Band.
Peter W. Jonas, age 69, of N7030 Connors Road in Munising, died following a brief illness at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising on Sunday afternoon, May 2, 2010. He was born on September 28, 1940 to the late Walter and Esther (nee Kemp) Jonas. Peter graduated from Sacred Heart School, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and graduated Valedictorian of the Wm. G. Mather High School Class of 1958. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Michigan Tech with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics. Peter was then a Fellow at M.I.T. He taught at Radford College in Radford, VA, worked as a book rep in Arizona, lived in Milwaukee where he performed in a number of Gilbert and Sullivan productions, taught math at Muskegon Community College, and returned home to help care for his mother when his father died in 1974. Peter began his own computer programming business and worked for many years programming. He published several computer articles. Peter was a member of Sacred Heart Church and served on the Zoning Board.
Peter was a musical genius and generously shared his gift with our community. He followed in his father's footsteps who directed the Munising Vanguards for the first five years of their existence. Peter was the director for the past twenty-eight years. He started the Community Band in 2000. Peter sang at many weddings and funerals, played the trumpet and Taps for over fifty years at funerals, performed with the Marquette City Band, Superior Swing, the Dixieland Band, and with the Clown Band during the 4th of July parade. In addition to music, Peter loved to ice skate and read. He enjoyed exercising at the Rehab Center at the hospital, following the Red Wings, and traveling out West. He enjoyed studying the history of Munising and the railroad. Peter competitively traveled playing Bridge for many years reaching the level of Grand Master, and he socially played many years in the Monday night club.
Peter is survived by his brother - Frank (Karen) Jonas of Charlotte, NC; sister - Ann (Bob) Tomczyk of Milford, MI; nieces and nephews - Sarah (Julian) Garro of Raleigh, NC, Andy Jonas of the U.S. Army Special Forces - stationed in Alexandria, VA, Sheri (Chris) Edwards of Clinton Township, MI, Greg Tomczyk of Skokie, IL, and Martin (Marty) Tomczyk of Appleton, WI; and great-nephews and great-niece - Drew, Max, and Bella. Peter was preceded in death by his parents and nephew Michael Jonas.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Thursday, May 6th. The Rosary will be recited at 4:00 p.m. and visitation will continue until 8:00 p.m. A Parish Vigil Service and a time of prayers, songs, and sharing of memories will be at 7:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. where Father Chris Gardiner will conduct committal prayers and the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will honor Peter for his many years of dedication to their services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Peter are requested to the Munising Vanguards or the Community Band.
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