Jon C. Jakeman

PORTAGE – Jon Jakeman, age 72, Portage, Wisconsin went to his heavenly home on September 14, 2020.

Jon was born in 1947 in Ft. Dodge, IA to Clifford and Frances Jakeman. He grew up on his family’s farm near Callendar, IA along with his two brothers. He graduated from Prairie Community High School in Gowrie, IA. He then attended Ft. Dodge Community College and graduated from Iowa State University. After graduating from college, Jon served his country in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He served in an artillery unit on a fire base in country. After his years in the military, Jon worked at Yellowstone National Park. While working here, he developed an appreciation for national parks and made it a goal to visit as many as he could throughout his lifetime. After moving to Portage, Jon worked at Ray-O-Vac, Penda and Trienda Corp. as a Quality Assurance Engineer.

Through good friends, Jon was introduced to Sara Huber Jakeman. The couple married in 1980 and began their lives together in Portage. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last April. Together, they were blessed with two daughters, Bethany and Krista. His children will always remember their father for his incredible patience, dependability, and his love of cookies. As a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Jon enjoyed being involved in Bible studies, singing in the choir, and serving on various boards at the church. You could often find him volunteering to help out others in his congregation. In his spare time, Jon always looked forward to golfing with friends, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Jon was a beloved child of God, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was a kind, gentle, caring man of strong faith, always wanting to share the love of Jesus with others. His faith was strengthened throughout his illness by these words: “For me to live is Jesus, to die is gain.”

Jon was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Frances Jakeman, and by his father and mother-in-law, Martin and Jacqueline Huber. He is survived by Sara Jakeman, his wife of 40 years, daughters Bethany (Joe) Bratz, Milwaukee and Krista (Nick) Biederer, McHenry, Illinois and by his grandchildren Ariya Biederer and Alexander Bratz. He is also survived by his brothers, David of Ft. Dodge, Iowa and Phil (Carolyn) of Emminence, Missouri, by his brother and sister-in-law, Bruce and Debbie Bennett, West Des Moines, Iowa, nieces and nephews and by his godchildren, Elizabeth Bennett and Abby Wahl Ignowski.

Private funeral services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Portage with Rev. Greg Hovland officiating. Burial will be at approximately 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Oak Grove Cemetery, with military honors provided by Portage Area Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation will be on Friday, September 25, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage (www.pmmfh.com), and on Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church. Social distancing will be observed, with a maximum of 50 people at one time at the funeral home. Masks will be required and provided if necessary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. John’s Lutheran Ministries, Portage, Wisconsin ministries@stjohnsportage.com or Camp Okoboji, LCMS, Milford, Iowa. campokoboji.org.