Remembering Jon

Jonathan “Jon” Raymond was born on June 22, 1984, to Dave and Denise Raymond. From the very beginning, he was strong and full of life—his mom lovingly called him “Mack truck.” He was an easy, happy child, always smiling, and almost always within a few feet of his big brother, Anthony. He started walking at just nine months old, determined to keep up. Jon had a playful spirit and a natural ability to make people laugh—whether through juggling or his signature “Russian dance.”

He carried pieces of his family with him in everything he did. He ate tomatoes and told stories like his Grandpa Roy, kept mints in his pocket like his Grandpa Lloyd, could strike up a conversation with anyone like his dad, and was organized and thoughtful like his mom.

Jon’s curiosity began early. He would intently watch weekend projects and ask endless questions. When his parents didn’t have the answer, they pointed him to the encyclopedia—sparking a lifelong love of research and learning.

He was also an animal lover with a unique flair. Not just any pet would do. He had a leopard gecko named Rex, who often rode around in his shirt pocket, and a pair of Indian Runner ducks named Pete and Repeat.

Bro

Jon and Anthony—“Bro”—shared a bond that was truly special. From the beginning, they were inseparable. At just three years old, Anthony would hold Jon and say, “I take care of you, baby J.” They rarely spent time apart, choosing to share life’s experiences side by side—from projects to hunting stands. At one point, they even cut a hole in the sheetrock between their bedrooms so they could talk at night.

Their closeness never faded. Daily phone calls were a constant when they weren’t together, often filled with hunting strategies or deep dives into the next “must-have” piece of equipment. Their research was so thorough that once one of them made a purchase, the other was inevitably convinced they needed it too.

In a remarkable twist of timing, they even started dating their future wives just three weeks apart. Erin and Sarah quickly recognized the importance of their bond and always supported it.

Hunting & Fishing

For Jon, the woods were his church. It was where he slowed down, reflected, and found peace. He loved observing the small details—the movement of animals, the quiet beauty of sunrise and sunset. Time in nature left him feeling grounded, grateful, and renewed.

His love of hunting began with pheasant hunts alongside his dad and grew into a lifelong passion. Mentored by Jim Kadlec, Jon and Bro became deeply immersed in deer hunting. By age 12 they were hunting on their own; Jon harvested his first doe at 14 and his first buck at 16. He later transitioned to archery, embracing the added challenge, and eventually muzzleloader hunting to extend the season he loved so much.

They spent many seasons hunting land near Clear Lake, Wisconsin, building relationships with the Wood family along the way. Turkey hunting in Milltown became another favorite, where Jon consistently seemed to have the better angle. Duck hunting… less so—especially after “that one time with Joe.”

Fishing was just as meaningful to him. Some of his favorite memories included: pan fishing at the Eikaas’ cabin, freedom on the “dog fish boat” on Ham Lake with Bro, Tony Haupert, Nate, and Kaddy, Muskie fishing on Lake 26, Sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River, Walleye fishing trips in Canada with his cousins and uncle, Bass fishing on the Yellow River, and most recently, spear fishing for northern pike on Linwood Lake.

No vacation was complete without fishing—whether it was a lake, a pond, or even a canal.

Between seasons, morel mushroom foraging became a tradition, requiring patience and a keen eye. It was something the Bros proudly opened up to the wives and kids each year.

Snowmobiling

When Jon wasn’t hunting or fishing, it was snowmobiling season. Thanks to his mom’s work at Yamaha’s R&D facility, he grew up around recreational vehicles. At five years old, she would strap him to her with a belt during rides—because he’d fall asleep.

At 14, he got his first sled, an Ovation, and a new level of freedom. Over the years, he developed a passion for upgrading sleds, riding models like the Phazer, Viper, Apex, and a turbocharged Viper before eventually switching to Ski-Doo and loving his Renegade.

Trips across Minnesota and Wisconsin were frequent, but riding in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula held a special place in his heart. His bachelor party—a four-day ride with the “wolf pack”—was filled with unforgettable moments, from fixing sleds on the trail to watching the sunset over Lake of the Clouds.

Even in the summer, his passion continued through “water skips” with cousin Chad and Bro—because snowmobiling was never just a season.

The Cabin

One of Jon’s favorite places was his parent’s cabin in Danbury, Wisconsin. It was the heart of so many of his favorite activities and memories. He spent as many weekends there as possible and even lived there for a few months in 2008 while completing a bathroom remodel project with Jason—one that somehow took twice as long as expected.

The cabin was more than a place—it was a feeling. Days were spent outside, and nights often turned into honky-tonk kitchen dance parties, followed by fireworks big enough to make Dave wonder if they were going to get in trouble.

Woodworking

Jon’s love for building started young, working on projects at home with his family. In high school, he took every woodworking class available and quickly stood out. He was drawn to the individuality of each piece of wood and the endless possibilities of creating something with his hands.

He pursued cabinetry at Hennepin Tech, but after less than a year of “making boxes,” he was ready for more. He joined a trade show exhibit company, where he met close friends Jason and Joe and became known as the go-to guy for complex, unconventional projects. Nicknamed “eagle-eye,” he was the one others trusted to double-check their work. He had a way of seeing details others missed and took pride in getting things exactly right.

Linwood

In 2012, Jon bought what he called the world’s best bachelor pad in Linwood Township—a small house with a big pole barn on three acres, across from a boat landing and snowmobile trails. The only catch: it was a “complete gut job”.

Anthony moved in shortly after, and together they dove into the renovation. They spent every night and weekend working, often sleeping in sleeping bags in the same bedroom because it was the only clean one. They jokingly swore off women and embraced the simplicity of the life they were building—side by side, doing what they loved.

The Love of His Life

Just as Jon was settling into that life, everything changed in June 2013. Erin was also living her best independent life and had firmly sworn off dating. The day of their first date, she had just closed on her dream townhouse—perfect timing, in hindsight.

They had been colleagues for a few years, but working together on the Pearson Candy Company exhibit brought them closer. On paper, they may have seemed like opposites, but their values, character, and outlook on life aligned in all the ways that mattered. The chemistry was immediate.

Both knew after their first date that they had found the one. Their relationship moved quickly—engaged on April 12, 2014, moving in together that August (with Erin joining Jon and Bro in Linwood), and married on February 7, 2015. When you know, you know.

Their life together was full of balance, growth, and partnership. Jon learned to tolerate sushi, appreciate a good glass of wine, and embrace travel. Erin learned how to gut a deer, assist on projects, and confidently drive her own snowmobile. They truly met each other in the middle.

They loved working together—remodeling their home, improving their yard, cooking meals, and dreaming up their next project. Their relationship was built on mutual respect, independence, and a deep love. There was nothing better than the reunion hug and kiss after time apart—whether it was a hunting trip or a girl’s weekend. As much as they loved their individual passions, they always couldn’t wait to come home to each other.

They shared many adventures together, including trips to Voyageurs National Park (houseboat life), Paradise Valley in Montana, Cape Coral, the Upper Peninsula in both winter and summer, the North Shore, and Hatteras, North Carolina. For their 40th birthdays, they spent two weeks exploring Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula—a place Jon described as life-changing and encouraged everyone to experience while they were still able.

In 2022, they became a family of three when they adopted Duke, their cockapoo—who shares Jon’s birthday. Duke brought endless joy, laughter, and a new shared focus. They spent countless hours training him to be the good boy he is today (aside from his enthusiastic jumping greetings). Duke especially loved wrestling with Jon—and when they were done, Duke treated him like a salt lick.

RaymondCraft

On July 3, 2015, Jon and Erin took a leap and started their own business, RaymondCraft. What began as a desire for flexibility and independence quickly became something Jon was incredibly proud of. He loved working for himself, setting his own pace, and building something meaningful with Erin by his side.

He was deeply grateful for every customer who trusted him with their ideas and projects. Many of those customers became friends, with regular conversations that went far beyond business—often touching on shared hobbies like hunting, fishing, and life in general.

Jon explored many creative avenues over the years, but recently he had fallen in love with scroll saw work. It allowed him to focus on smaller, more intricate designs that required patience, precision, and creativity—qualities he had in abundance. He had just completed his first two craft shows and was excited about expanding into gift stores.

If you are lucky enough to own a RaymondCraft piece, we hope it continues to bring you fond memories of Jon—his craftsmanship, his creativity, and the care he put into everything he made.

Uncle Jon

One of the roles Jon cherished most was being an uncle—“Unkie” or “Jon Wayne.” He loved Julia, Emma, Sadie, Jake, and Nathan fiercely, as if they were his own.

He embraced every part of that role. He taught them how to use tools, helped with crafts, Legos, and puzzles, and made sure there was always something fun to do—whether it was a ride on whatever motorized vehicle was nearby or heading outside for an adventure. He was just as happy snuggling up for a movie.

He was the silly one—the one who leaned fully into imaginative play and made the kids feel like anything was possible. The pride he felt in their accomplishments was undeniable, and he shared it with anyone who would listen. And true to form, he researched whatever phase they were in so he could meet them right where they were.

He created special memories with each of them. He was honored to take Jake on his first hunt and Nathan on his first snowmobile ride. A few times, he and Erin bravely took the kids out on their own—creating unforgettable adventures at places like the water park and Slick City.

Being an uncle wasn’t just something Jon did—it was something he deeply loved.

A New Chapter

After returning from Alaska, Jon and Erin made a bold decision: not to wait for retirement to live the life they wanted. After 1.5 years of searching, they purchased a home in Dresser, Wisconsin, on February 6, 2026—a chalet perched on a ridge overlooking a lake and rolling hills, filled with incredible sunsets and surrounded by deer trails.

It wasn’t too far from family, close to a Menards, and full of potential. With Erin’s vision and Jon’s skill, it was going to be their next great project and adventure.

They were scheduled to move in the day after Jon passed.

In Loving Honesty

Jon died by suicide on Monday, March 9th at 6:57pm. We spent the previous 25 hours at Regions Hospital trying to keep him stable enough for organ donation. Erin never left his side, holding his hand the entire time while advocating for him. His nurse, Hannah, is an angel. The CT scans showed a tumor in his arm bone, making him ineligible to donate. Thankfully, Bro and Sarah were able to return from Florida in time to say goodbye.

Most people saw happy Jon, but underneath that smile was untreated anxiety and likely more mental health struggles than any of us realized. Over the past two years, he experienced increasing health challenges that left him feeling constantly tired and not like himself.

We do not believe this was something he planned, but rather a momentary decision to escape a feeling he didn’t want to carry anymore.

We encourage you to take a moment to reflect on how you are caring for yourself—both physically and mentally. Erin, Bro, and Sarah have made a commitment to do better for themselves and for the kids. Will you join us?

For additional resources on grieving a loss from suicide, please visit 988lifeline.org.

Honoring Jon

If you are looking for a way to honor Jon’s memory:
go outside,
plant a tree or heirloom tomatoes,
take a kid fishing or hunting,
make something with your hands—

and think of him.