Jon Pettey

Jon Norman Pettey

“…the mountains are calling and I must go…”

Jon Norman Pettey, 74, passed away on Nov. 28, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. He was born on July 8, 1949, at St Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Norman and Marjorie “Tootie” (Johnson) Pettey.

Growing up in charming Monona Village, Wisconsin next door to loving grandparents, Ben and Ethel Pettey, Jon enjoyed a happy childhood with many friends and cousins exploring the nearby offerings of fields, woods, river, and lake. He once built, along with cousin, Mike, a canoe from a purchased kit to paddle the Yahara River a block away. He was baptized, and attended church services, Sunday School, and Bible School at St Mark’s Lutheran Church in South Madison, where was confirmed in 1964 and where he was active as an officer in the youth group. He had fond memories of raising money at church pancake breakfasts and selling Christmas Cards so the youth group could go on two summer canoe trips to the Minnesota Boundary Waters. Jon attended schools in Monona, WI, graduating from Monona Grove High School in 1967. Immediately after high school he entered military service with the United States Navy. After boot camp at Great Lakes Naval Station, he served the rest of his 4-year enlistment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Franklin D Roosevelt (CVA-42).

Leaving active duty in 1971, Jon attended Madison Area Technical College graduating in 1973 with an Associates of Arts degree in Business Finance. During his college years, he used and enhanced his photography skills by working part time for Meuer Photo Art and Framing Company on State Street in Madison. After college graduation he worked for Federal Savings and Loan in Madison until Meuer enticed him in 1975 with a full-time position in his passion, photography. In 1982 he began full time active-duty service with the 44th General Hospital in Madison, WI, moving to postings in New York, New Jersey and, finally, Denver, Colorado where he fell in love with the mountains. Retiring from military service in 1994 as an Army Master Sergeant/E8, Jon made the Denver area his final home, living in Aurora and since 2006 in his beloved home with a view of the mountains in Commerce City. He worked for the U.S. Post Office from 1997 until his retirement in 2012.

Jon was an intelligent, empathetic, patriotic, and kind man with admirable religious values. He was a loving son, a good partner to the love of his life, Thap, a proud and caring dad, and a reliable brother and friend. He always took time to call to check up on you. Jon was meticulous like his father in the care of his home and vehicles. He lovingly took great care of his dad’s 1993 Oldsmobile he was gifted after his dad’s passing. It was a hard parting for him when he donated “Dad’s Olds” to a good cause after many years of diligent care.

Jon was both a nature and animal lover, especially for his bulldog, Gus, and for his cat, Toby, who he rescued in cold weather from certain death in the open area behind his house. Toby was constantly by his side to the end. Besides his passion for cameras and a marvelous talent for art worthy photography, Jon was a collector of many things, like pens of which he had a countless many. Jon enjoyed driving and hiking trips into the mountains with Thap, especially their annual multiple day excursion to the San Juans in the fall. He also enjoyed photo ops with friends and visiting family to old mines, abandoned towns, and locations out on the Colorado plains. Jon kept up with current events and was active at his church, Nativity Lutheran Church, Commerce City.

A very good man leaves behind his bride, Thap: two daughters, Lauren and Linh: sisters, Susan Pautz, and Karen Pettey: brother, Tom: uncles and aunts, Tom and Helen Johnson and Pat and Dick Moe. Also, many close cousins and friends will miss him dearly. As John Muir wrote and Jon said with final brave words “…the mountains are calling and I must go…”

A funeral service will be held at NATIVITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, Commerce City, CO at 11 a.m. on Dec. 6, 2023, with Reverend Will Johnson officiating. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until time of the service. A celebration of life and burial to be held at Roselawn Memorial Park in Madison, WI at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Nativity Lutheran Church 12500 E 104th Ave, Commerce City, CO, F.I.S.H. Food Bank by Our Savior Lutheran Church 6770 Monaco St, Commerce City, CO and The Snow Leopard Trust (<https://snowleopard.org>)

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420