Jonathan Michael Karman

There is so much to say about Jonny so I’d like to share some stories and memories to celebrate the life he lived.

Jonny was born January 28, 2004 in Tacoma, WA to Rob and Rachel Karman. In the years to follow, he gained 3 brothers, Peter, Timmy, and Daniel and from the beginning he was the leader of this band of brothers. He loved his family fiercely. From the time he was little, he was tough and ready for adventure hence the 50 foot drop from a tree when he was in early elementary school. He was also so compassionate which showed up in his love for others. We like to say Jonny collected friends. He was always on the lookout for people in need of a friend. Jonny was an open book. He was willing to share his victories and his struggles with anyone yet he was also an amazing listener. People shared their lives with him. This served him well with his foster siblings as well over the years. As he got older, he could be found surrounded by kids or with a little one in his arms. Every little one knew Jonny loved them. He loved people with a passion and if you ever met him you felt it. It was something that never changed over the years.

Jonny loved American history and was fascinated by all the wars and battles. He loved to talk about history and all that he knew. He enjoyed visiting historical sites, battle fields, and forts on road trips. He had such an interest in our nation that as a kid, he even created his own. Kid’s Country. Jonny led as he and his brothers made shelters, food and things to sell or trade. They had jobs and responsibilities. They even had their own currency made from clay. Friends were always welcome to join their world. Jonny fancied himself a director as well. He wrote scripts and videotaped movies with his brothers in Kid’s Country which included many guns and death scenes as little boy movies would.

Jonny spent many many days of his childhood at his family’s cabin on Puget Sound. So many amazing memories were made there from sailing to crabbing to swimming to fishing. This instilled in him a love of the outdoors. Camping and fishing were great loves of his. When his family went on a road trip, his goal was to fish in as many states as he could. This also led to a love of hunting. If you asked Jonny what his hobbies were, hunting was at the top of list followed closely by fishing. He shot many gophers and rabbits but the deer and elk eluded him. He did get to mark something big off his bucket list though. Jonny got to go on a three day hunt into the Bob Marshall Wilderness complete with pack horses and mules. It was something he had only dreamed of. Another bucket list item was to ride a bull which didn’t happen but on the hunt he got a close second best. He went on a little bucking bronco rodeo ride on the way down the mountain. He didn’t last the full 8 seconds but it was a ride that won’t be forgotten.

Jonny was homeschooled throughout his school years and then went on to pursue a degree in criminal justice while finishing up high school. He came within just a few classes of finishing that degree. Jonny wanted to be a police officer from the time he was a little boy. When he got his diagnosis, he knew that dream wasn’t in the Lord’s plan any longer. He accepted that change with grace and trust in the Lord. What he didn’t know at the time was that the Lord would grant him a piece of that dream only days before he passed away. A deputy friend organized a surprise for Jonny. Officer Mills recruited another detective and the Pierce County Sheriff to make the drive to Montana. Not only did they bring him a uniform complete with name tag and badge but the sheriff swore him in making him a legitimate deputy. The look of pride on Jonny’s face that day as he repeated the oath was something we will all carry in our hearts forever.

As Jonny waited to be old enough to become a police officer, he needed a job because he had big plans which I will share with you soon. Jonny’s first job apart from helping neighbors with their lawns was working at a local hardware store. He started when he was just 15 years old. He worked hard there and made many friends. When he turned 18, he started working for a friend’s construction company. He worked with his best friends and loved every minute of it. His bosses will both tell you that he was a star employee. He was a hard worker and you could count on him to get things done right. He also had such a servant’s heart. He put that servant’s heart to use helping friends and family, volunteering at homeschool conferences and events, and serving willingly in any way needed at church. He was always going. His passion for life had him constantly pushing forward to experience everything he could and help anyone in need.

Just like with his desire to be a policeman, Jonny was always dreaming. It was a quality that he never lost even to the end. He used those dreams to plan epic game nights with friends, county folk and line dancing events, and huge airsoft days. He loved country music and organized concert trips with his friends. He talked about adventures he wanted to have, trucks he wanted to buy, about playing rugby again, and the life he wanted to lead. His biggest dream started when he was just 12 years old. It was then that he started dreaming of marrying Logan. They met when they were just 11 years old and it didn’t take him long to decide she was the one for him. I wouldn’t say he became her brother’s best friend just to be around her but it was definitely an added bonus. Jonny’s dream was to marry Logan at 17 because that was when it would be legal. What he had to do first was convince her. While it may not have been at 17, they began dating when they were 18 and were married on September 23rd, 2023 when they were both 19 years old. Jonny’s biggest dream came true that day and it was a day to remember. What a party!!

Jonny was an amazing husband to Logan. He loved everything about her and served her with his entire being. Anyone that saw them together and watched him look at her could see that he adored her. When he received his diagnosis, all he worried about was her and making sure she would be okay. He spent his time helping to prepare her for what was to come all the while still dreaming about the future. He talked to her about how he wanted her to live life to the fullest no matter what the outcome and when the outcome became certain, he made Logan’s best friend promise to take Logan to Hawaii since he wouldn’t be able to do it. He had been to Hawaii as a teen and had always wanted to take her so he was going to make sure it happened. Even as he was dealing with his coming death at the young age of 21, he wanted to make sure she still lived. I can’t think of a more loving action than that.

There is so much more I wish I could share. More stories than I can count but my time is coming to an end. However there is one thing that Jonny would want shared more than anything else and that is his faith. At a young age he came to know Jesus as his Savior and was baptized. The constant joy and peace that he had came only from the Lord. All the qualities I have mentioned, the love, the kindness, the loyalty, the servant’s heart, the hard work ethic, the loyalty, the joy, the peace, the gentleness, were all an outpouring of his love for and faith in Jesus. He wanted to live longer but he had no fear in death because he knew he was going to be with Jesus. He left a legacy of faith with his family and friends. His complete trust in the Lord’s plan was a gift to the rest of us that he left behind and for that we can’t thank him enough. That was the mark he left on the world. The mark of someone that loved His Savior so much no one was left untouched.