John William Jonas

Wood River native son John Jonas, 81, passed peacefully April 5, 2025 at his home in Hailey, Idaho surrounded by his loving family and wonderful caregivers.

Born in Seattle, Washington, John resided in Ketchum, Idaho with his parents and older brother Bob until the age of twelve. His father, Bob Jonas Sr., was a carpenter in the Sun Valley Village and on Baldy helping build the Roundhouse as well as a maitre d' at the Sun Valley Lodge. His mother Frances worked for Sun Valley in the accounting department and behind the cash register at Dollar Cabin. She could keep an eye on her young boys while they skied Dollar. John's story truly "Happened in Sun Valley."

In 1956 the family moved to Boise where John began ski racing at Bogus Basin. After graduating from high school, John was awarded a skiing scholarship at the University of Wyoming. He ultimately received a bachelor's degree in education from Boise State.

John met his wife Pam, his partner of 60 years, in the summer of 1967 in Boise. They married in 1969 at the Episcopal church in Ketchum and shortly thereafter moved to Alaska to begin their teaching careers in native Alaskan villages. Their daughter Amy was born in July of 1977 at Moritz Hospital in Sun Valley. They eventually move to the "road system" in 1980 and resided in Soldotna, Alaska until Amy graduated from high school in 1995. While living in Alaska, John enjoyed many epic adventures with Pam and Amy from sea kayaking in Alaskan waters to European bike tours in France and Ireland. He also embarked on trips with his brother Bob. One of the most memorable being a 65-day backcountry ski traverse on the Wrangell St. Elias ice field in Alaska, the largest non-polar ice field in the world. In addition, John and Bob enjoyed several summers of "Daddy Daughter" trips with Amy and Bob's daughter Nina Jonas.

Eventually, Pam and John divided their time between Hailey and Soldotna until their permanent move to the valley in 2001. John spent many days relishing Sun Valley's backcountry ski opportunities; a favorite spot was Durance, just north of the SNRA. He also enjoyed all the nordic skiing opportunities the valley has to offer.

John loved adventuring with friends and family but relished "flying solo" as well. This enabled him to connect with locals he met along the way, forging lifelong friendships. Toward the end of the 1990's John began his epic "Around the World on Two Wheels" tour. These adventures consisted of riding his bicycle across the US coast to coast, a 2,000-mile bike ride in Siberia with a Russian cyclist as a partner, and riding his motorcycle from Santiago, Chile to the tip of South America, to name just a few legs of this amazing journey. Throughout all his travels, John always had his camera at hand, beautifully documenting the landscapes and people he met along the way. His photography students, friends, and family always enjoyed the multimedia slideshows and albums he would put together after these expeditions. John was inquisitive and always lived life to the fullest. Certainly, a Life Well Lived!

John is preceded in death by his father, Bob Jonas Sr. and his mother Frances Jonas. He is survived by his wife Pam Jonas, his daughter Amy Jonas, her husband John Benson, his two grandsons Jonas and Jude Benson, his brother Bob Jonas, Bob's wife Sara Michael and his niece Nina Jonas. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Hospice of the Wood River Valley.