Jonny was a gentle soul in our midst, a simple humble man.  He was the kind of person who could laugh at himself.  He had a big hearted, childlike sense of humor, a kind of jokester.  He was lika a Muppet, fun and funny.  He was creative and imaginative.  He wrote songs and poetry.  Jonny could put together words in such clever ways that he always expressed his ideas profoundly.  But mostly we should remember his tremendous compassion, how he collected coats and blankets for homeless people in Asbury Park and Elizabeth, how he embraced them and bought food and ate with them to show his care and faith.

Jonny was a faithful and caring husband to his wife, Gerda, for over 28 years.  He was the kind of man who believed in and affirmed his wife, encouraging Gerda to pursue her education and a career.  Gerda tells me Jonny spoiled her and yet, I can tell you that throughout his long illness, Gerda spoiled Jonny.  She cared for him, learning how to be his nurse, advocating for him with his doctors, being his voice, when he had none.  They are kindred spirits, two very best friends.  Jonny was loving, forgiving, selfless and kind.  Jonny saw in his mother-in-law, Gerda, a mother, not an in-law.  Jonny loved all of you; you were his family, each one of you important.  It was important to Jonny that each of you has faith in God.

You will always remember how unique Jonny was, how he marched to that different drummer.  In fact, he was a drummer.  You will remember how he protected you when he needed to do that, how he was always there to comfort and to give to anyone whatever he had to give.  Most of the time he did more for others than he did for himself, always finding good in everyone else.

I met Jonny a long time ago, this bright eyed, hairy young man filled with enthusiasm and energy.  At first, I was not at all sure what to make of him. Who has a name Jonny Yes?  Who wears a cross and a Star of David at the same time?  And, who is so joy-filled all the time, as Jonny was?  Jonny was almost too good to be true.  When people come to me, they frequently want something.  But Jonny only wanted to give me things.  Jonny was real and he kept it real.  Eventually, Jonny got me started on passing out to others the 'Pick Jesus' guitar picks.  Interestingly, I have never given one to a musician who did not completely appreciate it.  You may not know it, but there was a period of time, during his illness, when Jonny's determination and faithful spirit was the only inspiration that kept three other men alive battling their illnesses.  Because of Jonny, Mike lived long enough to hold his grandson.  Because of Jonny, Sal beat the doctors' prognosis and is today, fully recovered.  Sal told me he would not give up as long as he knew Jonny was praying for him.  That is a powerful ministry!  Jonny was my friend and an inspiration to me.

We often talked about the scriptures and theology. He was very knowledgeable and atriculate.  He sometimes regretted that he had not become a minister and yet, let me say to all of you that Jonny was more a minister than some ministers I know. He was a better sheperd to God's people than many ordained professionals. He got many of you to think about your faith. He showed in his living the care and compassion of Jesus to so many people.

And Jonny was not afraid of dying; he left here peacefully, knowing in his heart that he would be with the Lord. There is so much more that we could say about him, all of us. But the most important thing we can say about him is that in every way, he was a true disciple of Jesus Christ, who took his call from God seriously.  Jonny was a man who was completely committed to the Lord.  He served in his own way faithfully. He lived his faith. Jonny Yes was a good man and a committed follower of Jesus Christ. We shall always have memories of Jonny that are ours as long as we live, memories of a man who brought an unsparing instinct for reality to bear on the platitudes and pieties of our little world.

Someday, you and I will cast aside our mortality and be clothed in immortality. We shall all be from the vulgarities of this life, liberated from illness, fear and hurt, surrounded in the very presence of God. And then we shall know the peace and the joy that Jonny knows even now, the glory that is already his. What a reunion it must have been when Jonny came home face to face with his Savior Jesus. What joy there must have been in all of Heaven when Jonny heard Jesus say to him, "Well done, thou good and faithful disciple. Enter into the joy and peace of my Kingdom." By his faith in Christ, Jonny is alive forever, waiting that time when we too shall sit at that great banqut table where people come to feast with God forever. We remember with gratitude, his life and ministry, praising God for all in Jonny that was good and kind and faithful.  Jonny's race is complete and he has become a member of the Communion of the Saints.