Jon Anthony Bergeron Sr., of Whitney, TX was 74 when he shed his mortal frame to go and be with his Savior. He died on Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019 at home surrounded by family.
Jon was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 29, 1945. He grew up in Cajun country with his mom Vivian and stepdad Albert along with his two younger sisters Kathy and Linda. He spent many hours hunting, fishing and eating great food. At age 16 Jon met a young lady from Houston named Carolen at Junior Achievement. Four years later they would marry and soon after move to Longview to enter college at LeTourneau Christian College where he would receive his degree in engineering. His faith became a central component of his life during this time where he became actively involved in his church and Christian Service Brigade where he took many young men out camping and doing various projects including the early stages in establishing Frontier Camp in Grapeland, TX.
After college Jon began a career in construction starting with building houses and eventually moving into commercial construction, founding and running Challenge Construction Company with the help of Carolen and his partner Mark Hamilton. During this time, his construction experience and resources allowed Jon to be a significant part of building three different youth camps, which was his true passion and ministry. As their kids finished school, Jon and Carolen decided to get out of the rat race and began a new business, Kajun Enterprises, and began traveling to automotive swap meets in different states, selling a variety of things over the years, eventually focusing primarily on rebuilding transmissions.
This career change eventually led them to Whitney, TX where they built a new life and community. Later they joined and became active at the Open Range Cowboy Church. Jon and Carolen were embraced as family and found a support system at Open Range as they entered their retirement years.
Jon is survived by his wife of 53 years Carolen, his four children and their spouses Aunicia & Steele Sharpe, Severine Bergeron Whittier, Jon & Shelly Bergeron Jr., and Sharee & Eli Rodriguez. He is also survived by grandchildren Cheyenne and Olivia Whittier, Tracey Casler, Trey, Hannah and Tyler Rodriguez, and Tanner and Jian Bergeron. He is survived by his mother Vivian Hebert and sisters Kathy Chaisson and Linda Petticrew as well as innumerable beloved family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30pm on Saturday April 27th at the Open Range Cowboy Church in Whitney, TX. In lieu of flowers Jon would be honored by gifts to the scholarship program at Frontier Camp. This will allow children who cannot afford camp to go and hear the gospel in a place where Jon invested his time and talents over the years. Gifts can be sent to Frontier Camp, 131 Frontier Camp Rd., Grapeland, TX 75844.
