On June 3, 2024, at the age of 73, Jon passed away at the Dougherty House Hospice with his loving family at his side. He gifted his family with a final week filled with memories including a walleye fish fry, family portraits, and a trip back to the town where his family’s foundation began.
Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, June 7, 2024, at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Foster Network, 620 S. Cliff Ave., Sioux Falls, SD, 57104. CLICK HERE to donate to the Foster Network online.
Jon was born on September 24th, 1950 in Minneapolis, MN. In 1967 he met the love of his life Sherry Burns on a bus on their way to hear a Civil Rights speaker. He remained an activist his entire life, with a particular focus on children’s issues. He privately provided Thanksgiving dinner to the Children’s Inn several years and delivered food via the Backpack program.
Jon and Sherry were married for 54 years and had 2 children – Sunny and Jesse. In 1977, they agreed to raise their children in a different world and made the move from Minneapolis to the small town of Flandreau where Jon was able to use his accounting degree to become the Controller for Julson Motors and Viking Vans. This decision forged a new path for our family.
Jon was able to be the involved dad he was meant to be. As an early feminist, he volunteered at school among the moms, chaperoned field trips, coached softball, made epic birthday cakes, planned vacations and adventures for his little family. The four of us had traditions including watching the Vikings every Sunday, cribbage battles with the score posted on the fridge, fishing trips to northern Minnesota, and decorating our house/yard for Halloween and Christmas.
Jon was a natural born salesperson and moved from his Controller position to a career selling accounting paperwork and software to car dealerships in the Midwest. He connected to his customers so well that on many occasions they insisted he cancel his hotel room and stay in their homes. His charm and smile made him friends everywhere he went including restaurants but especially long trips to HyVee where he talked to everyone while getting ingredients for his amazing ribs, stuffing, reubens, chex mix, and many other family favorites.
In 1999, the first of his 6 grandchildren was born and his life shifted again. Jon and Sherry decided they were going to downsize, sell the family home, and move to Sioux Falls to allow Sherry to babysit and he could be the involved Grandpa, just like he was a Dad. Little did they know that 5 more grandchildren were to follow. They cared for and helped raise each of them.
The next 25 years included building a dream backyard for those kids with a basketball court, trampoline, and pool. It also included soccer, football, basketball, and baseball games, marching band competitions, choir concerts, and musicals. Grandma had a color coordinated calendar with each grandchild a different color and he was ALWAYS in the stands. He had a special connection to each grandchild that included fishing, political discussions, classic movies, and sports.
He loved and was loved by so many, but not more than his wife, Sherry; daughter, Sunny (Steve); son, Jesse (Ellen); and six amazing grandchildren, Sophie (Seth), Bailey (Ruddy), Peter, Colby, Will (Joc), and Mason.
