Jonas William Pearson, age 23, went to be with his Savior Jesus Christ on June 25, 2022. Jonas was born at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota on July 14, 1998. The youngest of four brothers and older brother to one sister, Jonas was gregarious, outgoing, and known for his effusive spirit. As a child, carrying Jonas was like carrying a bag of happy monkeys. Those who knew him best likened him to Tigger in Winnie-the-Pooh stories- mischievous but with an infectious smile and a lot of energy.

Those who interacted with Jonas most often knew him to be kind, clever and engaging. From the beginning he earned many nicknames, mostly due to his happy nature and tall, skinny frame. He was quick to laugh and never tired of pranks. He was athletic and did well in many sports, but basketball was his true love and passion. He spent hundreds of hours shooting hoops and hundreds of dollars on basketball shoes, many of which he never wore.

Jonas went on to study business at the University of Wisconsin, and routinely was a straight A student. Jonas loved Milwaukee. His private sanctuary was in Riverside Park on the east bank of the Milwaukee River. In the midst of a bustling urban center, he could sit in the woods, enjoying the view of God's creation as the river made its way through the city, read his Bible and pray. Jonas spent many hours there ….
But as Jonas grew, we realized that he was growing into who the Book of Matthew calls a bruised reed (Matthew 12:20). More and more the sensitive spirit revealed itself and the gregarious, outgoing Jonas started to fade away. His love, compassion, and his gentleness were always easily expressed, but quiet pain started to fill his heart.

Then, on June 25 in that special place that Jonas called his own sanctuary, the bruised reed broke under unseen but oppressive forces. Jonas went to his Master's arms.

In the New Testament Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul states "although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's Law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner to the law of sin within me …… Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God Who delivered me through Jesus Christ our Lord'' (Romans 7:21-25)

The bruised reed broke. Jonas lost his last battle with temptation. But Jonas' hope is not in his own righteousness. His hope is only in the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross for his sins. While he lost his last contest, he went to be with his Savior who says "no one can snatch them (Jonas) out of My hand (John 10:28).

As a family, a part of each of us has died with the passing of Jonas.

For us who remain, it is a time of intense weeping. We take great comfort that our Lord and Savior wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35). But after a season of weeping and mourning, let us not remember Jonas by his death, but by his life.

Jonas, we love you dearly and we miss you so.

Grieving Jonas are his mother Elizabeth J. Pearson nee Johnson, his father Paul J. Pearson, his brothers, Clarence Joseph "CJ" (Haylee) Pearson, Clayton John Pearson, John Isaac "Jack" Pearson, and his sister Eden Elizabeth Pearson.

Also grieving are his Grandmothers Shirley J. Pearson-Hendrickson and Rosemarie Johnson-Nelson and Grandfather George Nelson.
Preceding Jonas in death are Grandfathers Clarence J. Pearson, Paul J. Johnson, Melvin Hendrickson.

Also preceding Jonas in death is sibling PJ Pearson, conceived and then taken to Heaven before birth.

A visitation will be held at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL, on Friday, July 1, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at College Church, 332 E. Seminary Ave., Wheaton, IL, on Saturday, July 2, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. The service was recorded and can be viewed through this link: Jonas Pearson's Funeral Service . Burial will be private at Wheaton Cemetery.

Everyone is invited to join us to celebrate Jonas at Klein Creek Golf Club, 1N333 Pleasant Hill Road, Winfield from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Memorials can be sent to:

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission
830 N 19th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233

MilMission.org