Arthur J. Jonen

Age 90, died peacefully on Tuesday, June 4, 2002, his 90th birthday, while family and friends were gathered to celebrate his special day. Art was born June 4, 1912 on the Jonen homestead, son of the late Peter and Dora (Vander Wyst) Jonen. As a young man, he worked on the family diary farm, and eventually attended vocational school to learn more about the carpentry trade. On July 14, 1942 he married his lifelong sweetheart, LaVerne “Vernie” Welhouse at St. Mary Church in Kaukauna. Art displayed his amazing and genuine love to Vernie each and every day. In July, they would have celebrated sixty years of marriage.

For forty-five years, he worked with his partner, Ray Bies, for the contracting company of Jonen & Bies. Amazingly, in all those years, he and Ray never had a cross word – a testament to the gentleman that Art was. He took great pride in his building skills and built the first hip roof in the area. He was also well known for building his roof trusses by hand. He and Ray built with such quality – many of their homes are still standing today. He also took pride in keeping up with the times; Ray and Art used the first pneumatic nail guns in the area. Art was also quite a tinkerer, and had fabricated two inventions, but never had the time to pursue the patent rights to them. Art enjoyed travel and caring for his lawn. Even at the age of eighty-eight, he could be found riding his mower “side-saddle”. He also enjoyed taking rides with his wife and nieces – that way he could do the sight-seeing. In his earlier years, Art also bowled on the Jonen & Bies bowling team. Art was also an avid fisherman, and kept his boat at the High Cliff Marina for many years. He enjoyed the early morning solitude of Lake Winnebago.

He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly sixty-years: Vernie Jonen of Kaukauna; a son: Ronald (Lorraine) Jonen of Kaukauna and their children Jina and Jeremy Jonen and twins Jessica and Jillian Jonen; a daughter: Donna (Dan) Cichy of Milwaukee; a son-in-law: Scott (Pam) Schuler of Stockbridge and their children Jill (Gary) Frassetto and Holly (Ken) Bekkers; three great-grandchildren: Abby, Zach, and Dominic Frassetto. Art is also survived by two sisters-in-law: Luanna Schwalenberg of Kaukauna and Leona Gerhartz of Brillion; and by three brothers-in-law: George (Doris) Welhouse of Antigo, Elmer Welhouse of Union Grove, and Ed (Ardene) Welhouse of Kaukauna. Art was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter Jill Mary Jonen, a daughter Patty Schuler in 1995, sisters Loretta Hauser, Clara Otte, Alma DeKoch, and Delia Otte; brothers Arthur, John, and Harry Jonen; sisters-in-law Arlene Welhouse and Ursula Welhouse; and brothers-in-law Ray Schwalenberg and Claude Gerhartz.

The funeral liturgy for Art will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, June 7, 2002 at ST. ALOYSIUS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 134 West Ann Street in Kaukauna with Fr. David Schmidt officiating. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery. Friends may call directly at the church on Friday from 1:00 PM until the hour of the liturgy. In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested that memorials be directed to a fund that has been established for the future Jonen Park.

Art is walking a new path, unlike any he has ever known. His faith, gentleness, and strength of character will remain forever in our hearts. As his journey continues, his love, compassion, and gentle spirit will live forever in all who knew him. May we all carry a little of him with us as we complete our lives on earth.

It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.

I wish you a day of happiness and perfection: little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you, holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.

Greenwood Fargo Funeral Home
500 Hendricks Avenue
Kaukauna, Wisconsin 54130
920-766-6201