Jon Q. White, age 62, of Rhinelander, died suddenly of a heart attack on June 23, 2009, in Pembine, WI, where he was teaching driver's education. Jon was born on July 25, 1946, in Marquette, MI, the fifth and youngest child of James Keith and Marcella (Jenkins) White. Jon's family moved to Ontonagon, MI, where Jon grew up on the shores of Lake Superior and within sight of his beloved Porcupine Mountains. Jon began working in his parents' corner store at age twelve and thus developed his strong work ethic and well-used gift for finding something to talk about with anyone he encountered. While he attended elementary school and high school, Jon also spent much of his spare time with his dogs, hiking, fishing, and skiing the Porkies before graduating from Ontonagon High school in 1964. He also served for several years during and after high school as a member of the Porcupine Mountain Ski Patrol. Jon was an avid member of the Ontonagon Mountaineers Drum and Bugle Corp where he played bugle and eventually directed the marching corp. It was through the Mountaineers that Jon grew to know and love his future wife, Karen Leslie, also a Yooper from birth. Jon left Ontonagon to attend and graduate from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in education in 1969. He married Karen Leslie on September 2, 1967, in Ontonagon, MI. Jon was hired to teach high school English and driver's education in St. Ignace, MI, and then in Crandon, WI where he motivated students with his charisma, his enthusiasm for teaching, and his outstanding donkey basketball skills. Since that first teaching job, Jon has challenged, frustrated, and inspired countless numbers of students in St. Ignace and Ontonagon, MI, and Crandon, Laona, Goodman, and most recently, Pembine, WI. Jon also spent 16 years teaching driver's education at Blackwell Job Corp Center. Jon was a longtime and active member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Rhinelander where he spent 10 years as a youth advisor. Jon continued to demonstrate his commitment to youth as the director of the Teen Center in Rhinelander and the director of the Family Resource Center in Mass City, MI. In 1997, Jon began working as a personal security officer for PerMar Security, a job he loved because he met so many of his favorite country music performers and got to gab with fellow PerMar employees and thousands of country music fans as well. Jon officially retired from teaching English in 2005, although he continued to teach driver's education and work for PerMar until his death. In his pseudo-retirement, Jon also operated an Ebay resale business. Throughout his life, Jon loved the outdoors and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. An avid Yooper, he was happiest when he was fishing, camping, and hunting or telling stories about fishing, camping, and hunting. He also got immeasurable joy sharing his stories with his grandchildren. He is missed by his wife, Karen (nee Leslie) White, his daughters, Tamilyn (nee White) Frey and Cassandra (nee White) Garcia, his beloved grandchildren, Emma Kate Frey, Madeline Garcia, Sydney Garcia, Benjamin Frey, Mykah Garcia, and Kennedy Garcia. He also leaves behind his confidant, brother, and partner in debauchery, Jim White of Ontonagon, MI, his dear friend, Don Fritcher of Crandon, WI, his son-in-law, Dagoberto Garcia of Porterville, CA, and friend and fishing partner, Pete Frey of Sarona, WI. Jon is also survived by his brother, Val (Judy) White of Marquette, MI, nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great nieces, a great great niece, a great great nephew, and countless friends and aquaintances. Jon was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Richard, and his sister, Judy Schneck. Jon's life will be remembered and celebrated through services at First Congregational Church in Rhinelander, WI at 12:00 p.m. noon on Friday, June 26, 2009. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service. His family will also be throwing a beach party in honor at Ontonagon Memorial Park in Ontonagon, MI during Labor Day weekend 2009. The Carlson Funeral Home (715-3691414 / www.carlsonfh.com) is handling the arrangements for Jon's family.
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