Jackie "Jack" Charles Gonder
Jackie "Jack" Charles Gonder, at the age of 63, went home to be with his Lord and Savior at 5:48 a.m. on Dec, 15, 2018, after a courageous battle with liver cancer.
He was born Oct. 6, 1955, in Chillicothe, MO, to Billie Clay Gonder and Virginia June Norris - Gonder.
Jack graduated from J.C. Penney High School in Hamilton in 1973. He went in to the US Marine Corp in Jan. of 1974, and served for four years. While stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, he was awarded the Navy Marine Corp Medal for heroically rescuing three people from drowning. On May 26, 1977, he married Vicky Rose Heldenbrand. After being discharged from the Marine Corp, he was a maintenance tech at Solid State Circuits, Northrop Grummen and NorthStar batteries.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Vicky Rose Heldenbrand Gonder; his sister, Caren Buckles (Rick); two brothers, John McGee (Jackie) and Larry Woten (Donna); his daughter, Julia Rudd (Bill); his son, Jason Gonder (Danielle); son-in-law, Todd Howard; seven grandchildren, Travis Coffer, Angel, Jayden, and Calven Rudd, Dacoda Howard, Jameson and Christian; and soon to arrive granddaughter, Avery Gonder; his mother-in-law, Shirley Heldenbrand; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends he considered family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Billie and Virginia, and his daughter, Christian Clay Gonder Howard.
In lieu of flowers he wanted donations made to two organizations that he cherished close to him: Hope Lodge St Louis, 4215 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108, and the Wounded Warrior Project.
(paid obituary)
