On March 24, 2025, Jonathan Roger Schmeck passed away from a car accident on his way to work. He was just 25 years old.

Jonathan was born on Aug. 29, 1999, in Bend, the oldest son of Penny Lee Dean Schmeck and Laird Leon Schmeck. Jonathan was named after his paternal grandfather John Schmeck and in 2001 became a big brother to Nathan, and so became the Schmeck Family. While Jonathan and his family spent the  majority of his life here in Burns, they did move back to Grand Rapids, Mich., where his family is from and to Emmett, Idaho, for several years before returning to Harney County.

Jonathan was like many boys growing up; he loved cars, trucks, tractors and pretty much anything with a motor, so much so that he named his first pet Semi. He spent his youth playing in the dirt of the desert, the humidity of the mid west and the grease of an old engine motor alongside his brother and best friend, Nathan. Jonathan enjoyed the days of fishing and family time but his heart belonged to Derby. Growing up, he got to watch his dad and cousins derby and as he got older, the hobby became a showdown between the Schmeck boys for the yearly hard luck trophy. If Jonathan wasn’t with his family or friends, he was working to support his derby endeavors, preparing a derby car or going bumper to bumper with other drivers, chasing his next big win. 

Jonathan worked at the local theater in high school and could be found helping people with various odd jobs around town but following his high school graduation, he took a job with Harney Rock and Paving as a heavy equipment operator where he had been employed since. As one can imagine, Jonathan loved running the machinery and took pride in the work he did and the efforts of a hard days work. 

In true Schmeck fashion, Jonathan was friends with just about everyone he met and had three life-long friends who he could always be found hanging out with. He was laid back, kind hearted and loving natured and made friends with ease. 

In June 2022, Jonathan became a dad, welcoming Jocelyn Schmeck into the world and diving into the role whole heartedly. Jonathan loved his family, he loved his friends and he lived for derby but his greatest love and achievement in life was and always will be his daughter Jocelyn. When Jonathan lost everything else in the world, he still had his daughter and their love for each other and fought to give her a good life and one that they could be proud of. 

Jonathan is survived by his beloved daughter, Jocelyn Schmeck; his grandpa, John of Idaho; his grandpa, Allen Willis of California; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He has joined his mom, Penny; dad, Laird; brother, Nathan; paternal grandmother, Ardetta; and maternal grandparents, Mary Holmes and Datus Dean in heaven. 

A service for Jonathan will be held at 2 p.m., on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at La Follette’s Chapel in Burns.