Carl E. Jonsson, a much-loved and active community member in Elma, died this past weekend at the age of 55 from medical complications.
“He was a good Christian man and would do anything for people. He loved serving,” Nola Jonsson said of her late husband.
Jonsson served on the Elma School Board, the board of United Way of Grays Harbor and was the purchasing and warehouse manager at Grays Harbor PUD.
In addition to his professional obligations, Jonsson loved to give back to his community. He was active in the Future Farmers of America program, the SPI Study Abroad program and coached high school students on public speaking and interviewing techniques. Jonsson was also active at his church, the Elma Missionary Alliance, as a board member and treasurer.
“There are some people in the world who are just a little nicer, a little better than we manage to be almost all the time we see them,” Elma School District Superintendent Kevin Acuff said of Jonsson in an email. “They always have a smile, they seldom if ever say a bad word about anyone and they they are willing to help if asked at any time. Carl was such a person.”
Syrena Dannenberg, Jonsson’s daughter, said her father’s willingness to give back never ceased to amaze her, especially when it came to fitting all his volunteer work into his schedule.
“He was always there for me through everything, through high school, sports and divorce,” Dannenberg said. “He has always been there for everyone, not only me, but for the community.”
When Jonsson had spare time outside of the many programs and organizations to which he volunteered his time, Nola says her husband enjoyed collecting sports cards.
“He had kind of an obsessive hobby of collecting sports cards and had well over a million listed online,” she said.
His love for sports cards, however, was no match for the love he had for his family.
“He loved his family, he would do anything for his family,” Nola said.
The community and numerous organizations throughout Elma and Grays Harbor now have a void — a professional one, but moreso a personal one. Acuff says no one else will be able to fill that void.
“Carl did so much for so many in our community that he will not be replaced,” Acuff said. “We will carry on with a spirit of wanting to emulate a little of what Carl was in our daily lives, because he was truly special.”
Kelley McDonald, executive director at Live United Grays Harbor, said she, too, is having trouble wrapping her head around Jonsson’s death.
“This is definitely a shock for all of us,” she said. “One of the board members this morning said that Jonsson was truly a gentleman in all the opportunities they were given to work with him.”
Jonsson is survived by his wife, Nola, daughters, Syrena, Alanna and Cale, and son Carl.
“He loved everyone, he treated everyone with respect and made sure that everyone had all the opportunities they needed,” Dannenberg said. “He was the most kind-hearted person, the biggest teddy bear.”
