Jon Tellkamp

Jon Martin Tellkamp, of Punta Gorda Florida, passed away on March 19th. He had struggled with

complications caused by Type II Diabetes for years.

Jon was preceded in death by his father William. He is survived by his partner of 39 years, Laura

Swiskoski, his mother Edna and his older brother Mark. He also leaves behind his beloved pet cat

Sockies, a 7 year old female who adored Jon.

Jon worked as a manager in the restaurant business for over 30 years. Most recently at the Punta Gorda

Elks Lodge.

He was an avid reader throughout his entire life. A music fan in general, Jon was especially fond of the

Beatles. It would be fair, in fact, to refer to his love for the Fab Four as ‘fanatic’.

Growing up in La Moille, and later La Salle, both in Illinois, Jon spent many summer days exploring the

creeks and dense wooded areas near the Tellkamp homes in both towns. He camped with family,

friends and while living in La Salle with members of his Boy Scouts of America Troop. Always an

outstanding student, Jon received no grade lower than an ‘A’ prior to high school.

Jon also excelled at baseball in his youth. Throughout his life he loved to swim.

Generous to a fault, any friend or even acquaintance in need was welcome in Jon’s heart and home. He

routinely placed the needs of others over his own, a trait inherited from his father. One that sometimes

resulted in great difficulty. Yet his heart never changed. The brightness in his eyes never dimmed.

Jon and his father, Bill, were exceptionally close. Shortly after moving to Florida in 1990 his parents

purchased a home nearby. A few years later, when Bill retired, he and Edna sold their home in Illinois

and became full time residents of Florida.

As Bill and Edna grew older, Jon and the great love of his life, Laura, spent more and more time with

them. The four gradually became inseparable.

When Bill passed away in February of 2019, Jon was devastated. His health suffered as a result. He

never truly recovered from the loss. Yet even so Jon’s commitment to Edna, his elderly mother, only

grew. Looking out for her was the last great quest of his life.

Helen Tellkamp, Jon’s paternal grandmother, once said that the size and breadth of an Angel’s wings in

heaven are directly proportional to the size of our hearts in this life. Such was important, she explained,

as God’s throne sits at the highest point in heaven. Only Angels with the most powerful wings can fly

high enough to commune directly with him.

On March 19th at 11:20 P.M. Eastern Time, a gentle, beautiful soul left this life for the next. At Heaven’s

threshold the Archangels, as always, gathered to watch the new Angel being born. They most certainly

would have stared in awe at the wings he received. For Jon Martin Tellkamp’s heart was truly beautiful.

He was loved. He will be missed.

A visitation for Jon will be held Thursday, April 7, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Kays-Ponger & Uselton Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 2405 Harbor Blvd, Port Charlotte, FL 33952, followed by a memorial service from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kayspongerpc.com for the Tellkamp family.