Lynn A. Tonjes

Lynn Alan Tonjes, 69, of Pender, NE, passed away on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Pender Community Hospital in Pender, NE. The visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender. The funeral will be on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Pender. Burial will be in St. Mark's Lutheran Church in rural Pender. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. The family requests you wear your favorite New York Yankee or Nebraska Cornhusker attire to all services in memory of Lynn. Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh-Smith Funeral Home in Pender.

Lynn was born on March 5, 1957, in Pender, NE, the son of Floyd and Marcelene (Grahlheer) Tonjes. He was raised in Pender and graduated from Pender Public School in 1975. Shortly after graduation, Lynn started working on the family farm and raising hogs. On August 25, 1979, Lynn married Mary Sunderman at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Emerson, NE. With this union, they had two children, Blake and Brianna.

Lynn was a sports enthusiast and an avid collector of anything Nebraska Cornhuskers and the New York Yankees. He was always up for a good time, joke, or prank while enjoying time with his family and friends. He had a love for family, baseball, football, music, and movies. His favorite pastimes were sitting at home watching a good sports game on TV and going to his kids' and grandkids' sporting events.

Lynn's grandkids were his pride and joy; they are what made life worth living. One of his most memorable gifts was receiving his grandson Brooks' home-run baseball that he later autographed for him because grandpa wanted to be the first with an autograph. He was honored to pass down his restored childhood tractor to his youngest grandson Cayse. It was also well known that Alexa was the favorite granddaughter, he was always on an adventure with her.

In Lynn's later years, he spent most of his time kicked back in his recliner watching TV with one or 3 of his beloved cats curled up right next to him, trading baseball cards with his grandson, and ensuring Alexa had enough humor each day with his text messages to her. He attended any and every activity he could of the grandkids, and if he couldn’t, he was a pro at the iPad and watched from there.

He is survived by his mother, Marcelene Tonjes of Pender; son, Blake Tonjes of Lincoln, NE; daughter, Brianna Tonjes, of Pender; grandchildren, Alexa, Brooks, and Cayse; lifetime partner, Mary Tonjes of Pender; brothers, Lee (Jane) Tonjes of Pender, Clayton (Sandy) Tonjes of Sioux City, IA; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his father, Floyd Tonjes, and cousin by blood, brother by heart, Kenne Tonjes.