Jonathan Mark Ahlbrand

Jon was born July 17, 1961, in Charleston, West Virginia, to Ray Allen Ahlbrand and Melva Ann Miller. He grew up in Columbus, Indiana, graduating from Columbus North High School in 1979, where he was a member of the swim team and the spelunking club.

When he was six his father built a sailboat and that began Jon's lifelong passion with sailing, sailboat racing, and windsurfing. He had the opportunity to sail on small lakes, Great Lakes, and oceans, and in all size sailboats from a Sunfish and catamarans to the tall ship Europa.

He attended IUPUI and later Indiana University-Bloomington where he studied geology.

In 1981, he left college to serve his country in the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Fort Sill for training and was ultimately assigned to 2nd/92nd Field Artillery in Giessen, Germany. Among other accolades, he was awarded the Army Achievement Medal and NCO professionalism badge for his outstanding service.

After serving in the Army, he returned to Indiana University. He graduated in 1985 with a BA in geography and an SPEA certificate in environmental affairs. During this time, he was the co-captain of the Indiana University Sailing Team and competed across the Midwest. He also began working as a photographer; a skill and passion he continued to share with friends, family, and community across his life. He is remembered for his beautiful photographs of sailboats, lighthouses, and other images of the Great Lakes, as well as seasonal changes on the lake near his home, Lake Lansing.

In 1990, he met the love of his life, Carolyn Eble, in Portage, Michigan. In 1993, they married at St. Catherine of Siena, Portage, and Jonathan became the stepfather to 10-year-old Joseph and 8-year-old Katherine. Later that year, the family grew by one when Elizabeth was born. Together, Jonathan and Carolyn shared a spirit of adventure, finding joy in journeys both large and small, alone or with their family, by land or sea, near and far.

Professionally Jon worked in civil engineering, college publishing sales and marketing, online learning technology solution consulting, cloud based talent management technologies and other cutting edge technologies. He also spent 21 years as an adjunct professor at Lansing Community College, teaching sales and marketing online.

Later in life, Jonathan served 14 years with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He served locally as well as on the national staff. He trained for search and rescue operations, taught safe boating courses, made presentations on cold water safety and other safe boating topics, inspected vessels and served as a local public affairs officer, making numerous TV and radio appearances.

Jon connected with everyone who crossed his path. His integrity, wit, and warm humor earned him rich, life-long friendships that he valued deeply. He found true satisfaction in being of service to others, and profound enjoyment in good music and good food, nature and people. He will be missed by all who knew him.

He leaves behind his wife Carolyn and beloved children: daughter Elizabeth, stepson Joseph Hill and wife Samantha Jones Hill and grandson David Thomas Jones Hill, stepdaughter Katherine Hill Schultz and husband Max Schultz and granddaughters Micah Magnolia Augusta Schultz and Marta Lucile Carolyn Schultz, and his siblings Bruce (Sandy) Ahlbrand and Debbie Mercer, as well as a large cohort of Miller and Ahlbrand cousins - all of whom he remained close to over the years. His family meant everything to him.

"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails." -William Arthur Ward