Kevin L. Tonjes

Kevin Tonjes age 67 of Bancroft passed away unexpectedly on July 23, 2025. In 2010, Kevin survived death 3x in one day, helped by many and a helicopter transport after a heart attack at work. But this time, the heart attack was bigger and an incoming storm prevented the helicopter request. A heartfelt thank you to the Pender hospital team who worked feverishly to help him.

The smiling pictured man above is my husband. Like all of us, not perfect but he was a very thoughtful person who had a big heart.

Truthfully, Kevin got married to be a dad. During nearly 33 years of marriage, we were redirected often. But not geographically. Kevin loved Bancroft. From birth to death, he only had one zip code.

Once married, Kevin soon had his only child, who he named Blake. He also became the instant fun dad to step children Eric and Ellen. He loved them all dearly.

Early in our marriage, and after our son’s birth, petroleum was discovered in and around our home, as well as our neighbors. Though unintentional, it was very traumatic. Also impactful to the gas station owners who had been lifelong friends until litigation. It divided some in our little town.

As God intended, Kevin had unending dedication and love for his son. Blake sometimes called him Papa Bear. They liked fishing together and eating spicy foods. But Blake had medical difficulties most of his life, one thing after another. Blake suffered from a severe fainting illness and multiple head and face injuries in his teens. Misunderstanding unplanned effects of prescribed medicines, caused constant legal problems for Blake and of course, consumed us. As medically uneducated parents, we became heart broken for not understanding it sooner. Our mission to help our still very bright son from an illness he did not cause, inadvertently hijacked all of our lives.

Kevin was wonderful with Eric and Ellen who were young and impressionable when Kevin came to love them. Kevin shared dad things like fishing, hunting, flying his 2 seat powered parachute plane with kids who kept track of who flew with him the longest the time before. Kevin contributed to both of their notable adult successes.

Kevin selflessly helped his mother until her passing. He found pleasure in helping others. He was a kind, tolerant, teaching husband and a tender hearted man. He never got mad on occasions when the kids were kids, I got the mower stuck, or if I moved snow and put rocks in the grass that made the next mowing season treacherous. He rescued me many times in many ways…and I did the same for him.

He is survived by his wife Jo, children Eric (Chelsey), Ellen (Ben) and Blake. Sisters Karmen (Randy), Holly (Paul) and sibling in-laws Mary and Everett. He was Uncle to Darin (Deb), Lillie, Adam, Paige, Hunter and Pierce. Nephew to Ron (Leeta) and Lois Mackey, and cousins Chris (Rob), Randy (Rene) and several other cherished family members. Preceded in death by parents Myron and Ima Jean Tonjes.

When you love someone, let them know. As when you can’t……it really hurts.

Lovingly…Jo