Obituary of Jon Steven MacDonald

MACDONALD, Jon Steven- Went home to be with his Lord. Beloved husband of Freda. Loving father of Jon B. (Betty) Sheila-Rae, Mark S. (Carol) and Leslie (Bill). Grandfather of Delynne ( Dean), Tamara ( Marcus), Raquel ( Leo) and Tamsen. Great grandfather of Leilah and Mia. Step grandfather of Courtney, Brett ( Jade), Ryan ( Amy), Rhonda ( Jon), Sadie, Angela, Sammy, Lori, Kitty-Lee and families. Jon was born in Chatham, Ont. on December 22 , 1935. Predeceased by his parents John Raymond and Edna Grace ( Coutts) and his sister Nancy Rae. Brother of William David ( Nuna) of Vestal, N.Y. and Brian Edward of London. Jon was a 30 year retiree of General Motors, working in expense stores, maintenance and engineering offices under Ed Dixon, Ken Ludlow and Joe Krsul. He spent his whole life making music, enjoying performing with perfection. Starting at 6 years old with piano lessons from his aunt Lillie, he progressed to Cornet at age 8 with tutelage from Syd Chamberlain of the Chatham Killtie Band. He also joined the Chatham Police Boys Band. At 10 he switched instruments to Euphonium and at 13 started Trombone ( A Match Made In Heaven). Jon won many medals with C.P.B.B. and in the Solo Category at Waterloo Music Festival and C.N.E. At 14 he joined his father playing in the Chateau Gai Orchestra. He continued competing and by age 16 won all the top medals in Kiwanis, Waterloo, C.N.E. including open classes under 21 and over 21. At 17, he had his own orchestra playing the local high school proms and dances, the Royal Legions and Moose Hall dances. His teachers during these years were Phil and Ed Carney. Jon went on to play in several bands in the Windsor, Sarnia and London areas. Particular favorites were Fred Frampton's, Maurice VanCoillie, Fred Foster and Wilf Lancaster as well as the Chateau Gai. Moving to Hamilton- St. Catharines area, Jon played with Jimmy Coons and Ron Metcalfe. He then met and joined Frank Phelan's band. He played Sunday concerts with Fred Willett at Queenston Heights. At times he had his own band playing with Bill Stevens, Jimmy Younger and Bob Forrester. Jon enjoyed many jobs at Port Dalhousie and Montebello Park with Scotty Simpson. He played in the Park Hotel Club on Clifton Hill and was a hit with the "Red Garter Band". Going on the road on weekends, playing down the east coast from Banger, Maine to Boston Mass. over to Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. He then got calls to go to Toronto with the Father's Moustache Band playing at the airport Howard Johnston's. Meeting musicians there, he was asked to play at Skyline Diamond Lil's, Brunswick House, Sheraton Four Seasons, "Grannys", Walker House, Royal York and C.N.E. with Borgi Borgenson. At a Maid of the Mist Parade in Niagara Falls, N.Y. he met up with Jack Bacon of "Morgan Street Stompers". Several years followed of playing in Buffalo, the Western Teir of N.Y.S. and Finger Lakes area and formed a close friendship with these musicians. When Jon started to slow down and not go so far a field, he started playing with the Lincoln Concert Band in Beamsville, Jimmy Marando Band in Welland and the Lincoln and Welland Swing Band ( Ambassadors) in St. Catharines. Over the years he also played with the Thorold Reed Band, the Dutch Band, the Italian Band, the Polish Band and the Armenian Band. At different times in his musical career he also enjoyed the Christian musical pageants at Central Gospel. Jon was very generous with his talents, often playing for several different charities when asked. Mr. MacDonald is resting at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 585 Carlton Street, St Catharines. The family will receive visitors on Friday from 2-4p.m. & 7-9p.m. A Funeral Service will take place at Trinity United Church, 15 Pine Street South, Thorold on Saturday at 2p.m. Burial at MacDonald Section of Gosnell Cemetery in Highgate Ontario will take place at a later date. Memorial donations to Bob Rumble Foundation for the Deaf or Trinity United Church Thorold would be appreciated by the family.