Kathleen "Kathy" Marie Jonson

Kathleen Marie (Lembke) Jonson, lovingly known as Kathy, passed away on January 2, 2026, at the age of 78 at Safe Haven Assisted Living Facility in Mason, Michigan, following a courageous journey with Alzheimer’s disease.

Kathy was born on September 30, 1947, in Cadillac, Michigan, to Nora and Adolf Lembke. She graduated from Marion High School and began her working years in retail at Cochrane’s in Cadillac. On July 22, 1972, she married the love of her life, Jerome Alexis Jonson, in Cadillac, Michigan. Together they built a life grounded in faith, devotion, and family.

After their marriage, Kathy embraced life as a homemaker while helping her husband on their dairy farm in Tustin, Michigan. When the family later relocated to Lansing, Michigan, she continued her calling as a devoted homemaker and for a time worked as a house cleaner for the Medawar’s Jewelers family.

Kathy grew up in Tustin, Michigan, and later moved to Lansing when her husband accepted a position with the State of Michigan. In a beautiful chapter of devotion to her family, she spent five years on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, helping her daughter as a first-time mother while her son-in-law was enlisted. She eventually returned to Michigan, living in Mason with family before moving to assisted living when she required full-time care.

Faith was the cornerstone of Kathy’s life. She was actively involved at First Baptist Church in Cadillac before relocating and later became a dedicated member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Lansing. God, faith, and family were her guiding lights. Christianity was her foundation, and everything in her life was built upon it. She and her husband looked to God for direction in every decision, in navigating life, and in raising their children. They led not only through words, but through faithful example.

Kathy will be remembered for her sweet, kind, considerate, patient, loving, and caring nature. She was trustworthy, loyal, humble, and strong. She cherished time with family and friends, enjoyed laughing, playing games, reading, baking, cooking, and gardening, whether tending to her flowers or growing food for her family. She had a beautiful singing voice and loved singing along to Christian music, especially the old hymns. She worked hard at everything she did and believed firmly, “If you’re going to do it, do it right the first time, and do a good job.” Even in sickness or pain, she rarely complained and always gave 110 percent.

She is survived by her daughters, Laura Wilkinson of Fresno, California and Andrea (Ryan) Jasman of Mason, Michigan. She was a proud and loving grandmother to Faith Wilkinson and Seth Wilkinson of Fresno, California, and Aaron Jasman and Austin Jasman of Mason, Michigan.

She is also survived by her sister, Judith (Clifford) Brunk of Santa Monica, CA; her nieces, Tasha Brunk of Playa Del Rey, CA and Lytha (Sean) Roddy of Los Angeles, CA; nephew, Clifford "Skip" Alan Brunk (Eren Manavoglu) of Menlo Park, CA; and great-nephews, DeSean Brunk of California, and Miles Roddy and Carver Roddy of Los Angeles, CA.

Kathy was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jerome Jonson; her daughter, Bridgett Jonson (stillborn); her brother, Brad Lembke; and her parents, Nora and Adolf Lembke.

A memorial service for Kathy will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 11:00 AM, with a one-hour prior visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at Gorsline Runciman Tiffany Chapel, 3232 W Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48917. Following the service, Kathy will be laid to rest in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 4444 W Grand River Ave., Lansing, MI 48906.

In honor of Kathy’s life and faith, memorial donations may be made to Maranatha Baptist Church, 2300 N Waverly Rd., Lansing, MI 48906, www.lansingshope.com or to Family Life Radio (99.7), National Ministry Headquarters, P.O. Box 35300, Tucson, AZ 85740, www.myflr.org