Jon Wade

Jon Wade

1955 - 2016

Death Announcement

Jonathan (Jon) Matthew Wade, Chehalis, 61, quietly passed away surrounded by loving family at Providence Hospital in Centralia, WA, on December 29, 2016.

Life

Jon was born on January 6, 1955, in Auburn, CA, to Houston and Gennevee (Jenny) Wade.  The Wade family moved to Chehalis in 1966. Jon frequently told stories about his early childhood in California, about his family’s adventure to Alaska and back looking for work, and their eventual settling in Chehalis where his dad worked on the construction of the salmon hatchery.  All of his immediate family remains in Chehalis.

Jon graduated from WF West High School in 1973 where he participated in football, track, and student government.  Always a working man, Jon worked a variety of jobs while in high school including the sale barn, the cannery, and a DNR fire crew.

After graduation Jon and his friend Dennis set out on a hitch-hiking/train hopping adventure to Montana.  Then he was a ranch hand assisting his Great Uncle Corbett on his rodeo steer raising ranch in Arkansas.  Before Jon attended Grays Harbor Community College, where he drove school bus, he obtained his CDL to drive truck to deliver church furniture.  After Grays Harbor he attended gunsmithing school in Denver, CO, while working at a sporting goods store.  His last adventure outside Lewis County was working in Gillette, WY as a truck driver “in the oil patch”.  He returned to Chehalis “only for my sister’s wedding” in 1978, where he remained until his death.  

Jon was employed at the Centralia Steam Plant for 38 years.  He unexpectedly left work in March 2016 feeling a bit under the weather.  A pancreatic cancer diagnosis came in early April.  His illness forced his retirement and he was miraculously able to celebrate at a retirement party with overwhelming attendance and show of love and appreciation on December 3.  Jon was proud to be a union man and was a firm believer in union apprenticeships, of which he completed two. Jon’s positions included Fuelman, Fuel Equipment Operator, Plant Equipment Operator, Steam Plant Mechanic, and Steam Plant Mechanic Foreman. He was the shop steward for many years and served on the IBEW Bargaining Team for five Labor Agreements over a 15-year period.  His family has recently been told that Jon was the most influential IBEW member in changing a very adversarial Centralia/IBEW relationship into a more civilized, collaborative one.  Jon, always humble, never spoke of his influence in this way.  His family learned of it from others who were directly affected in a positive, forever way.  As his forced retirement became imminent he would emotionally say, “I grew up there”.  He thought of his work mates as family and he maintained an impressive collection of loyal friends.

Jon married the love of his life, Corie Jenicek, in December, 1981.  Jon and Corie made their home and raised their children Matt, Jamie, and Jonny in Chehalis.  As Jon’s illness progressed, he exposed his heart and the side of him that only Corie knew.  He told certain people that “she was perfect for me and I knew it the minute we met”.  He wanted them to know so they could remind her when she is sad.  He adored his kids and supported them and their varied activities right up to the end.  He was the major influencer, supporter and protector of Corie and their kids, and his absence will be felt deeply and forever.  

Jon was always learning something which turned into his many hobbies that included competitive target shooting, talking to his best friend about their next gun project, beekeeping, beer brewing, bow hunting, fishing, riding motorcycles, shrimping and crabbing, soccer, saxophones, guitars, dance, and reading about a variety of subjects. He was all in. 

Jon was known as a perfectionist, and gave his full focus at work and in his activities. He valued humility and independence, and taught those values to his kids.

Family

Jon was predeceased by his father Houston Wade in July of 1997.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Corie (Jenicek) Wade, children Matthew Wyatt Wade, Seattle, Jamie Lynn Wade, Chehalis, Jonathan Corbett Wade, Seattle; Mother Gennevee Wade; Sister Susan (Brett) Shepherd, nephew Jordan (Tess) Shepherd and family; Brother Steve (Kathryn) Wade, nephews Nathan and Brock Wade, niece Lauren Wade; In-laws Roger and Pat Jenicek, Mark Jenicek, Jon and Aaron (Jenicek) Norman, Robin Debow, niece Shannon (Andrew) Freeman and family, niece Amanda Jenicek and daughter, nephews Taylor and Kyle Norman, and Brandon Jenicek.

Service/Meal

Private burial at Claquato Cemetery is under the direction of Newell-Hoerling of Centralia, WA.

A Celebration of Life for Jon will be held at 4:00 PM on January 14, 2017 at The Loft in Chehalis, WA.  Some of Jon’s favorite foods will be provided and you are welcome to bring a potluck item to share.  There will be time and facilities to share fun or influential stories about Jon.

End/Thanks

Corie, Matt, Jamie, and Jonny would like to thank all the family and “family” members and friends for their cocoon of love and support during this final chapter of Jon’s journey.  Your presence is always felt.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Lustgarten Foundation (lustgarten.org) for pancreatic cancer research, or to the Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation (wspmf.org), an organization that over-whelmed Jon by providing unexpected and generous monetary support to assist with flood recovery in 2007. 

 Service Information