Jonas Burgess

Jonas Ceasar Burgess, 95, longtime Seminole resident, died Sunday, March 12, 2017 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Jonas was born February 18, 1922 in Konawa, Oklahoma to Walter Ceasar Burgess and Nancy (Alexander) Burgess. Jonas grew up in the Vamoosa and Konawa area of Seminole County and attended school at Vamoosa Independent School in Konawa, Oklahoma.  Jonas worked at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma and later as a welder and maintenance technician at Blue Bell Inc. in Seminole (now Wrangler) for over 20 years. He was a member of the Seminole Indian Baptist Church in Konawa, Oklahoma. He was baptized by his father on January 1, 1936 and was ordained as a deacon on September 15, 1967 by Homer Emarthle, John Factor, and J.D. Roberts. He loved visiting with people, making ties, and tinkering on his 1966 Chevy. Jonas, a World War II veteran,  entered the U.S. Army to serve his country on February 25, 1943. Jonas was  placed on active duty on March 4, 1943, in the 178th 52nd Battalion Division, and was honorably discharged as a Private First Class on November 24, 1945 from the Battery C, 308th Field Artillery Battalion. His tour of duty was Omaha Beach, Normandy, other battle/campaigns; including Romo-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Northern France, North Appenine, and Po Valley. He was a Truck driver, Marksman Carbine. His decorations/citations include EAME Theater, Ribbon w/one Silver Service Star, I bronze service star, American Theater Ribbon, WWII Victory Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal. He is survived by his daughter, Gina Lankford and her husband Frank, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, his son Ronnie (RB) and his wife Denea Burgess, of Seminole, Oklahoma; step-children: Carol Cathey of Bowlegs, Oklahoma, Kay Lehman, Dean Walker of Konawa, Oklahoma, Terry Walker  of Wewoka, Oklahoma, David Walker of Seminole, Oklahoma; grandchildren Nick Burgess, Desiree and Chris Wassana and Troyce and Hanna Marshall and Grandpa Jonas to Garret and Raeah Walker; great grandchildren, Kingston (KB) Burgess, Porter & Audreana Wassana,  a half-sister, Evelyn Puntka, other nieces and nephews and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Rev. Alexander Burgess, sisters, Francis Tanyan, Jane Boydston, Martha Palmer, Elisa Jesse, infant brother and sister, Ida and George Burgess, and his wives Lillian (Foster) Burgess, Flora ( Taylor) Burgess and Christine Gibson. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the Seminole Indian Baptist Church in Konawa, Oklahoma, with Mitchel Taylor of Hickory Ground # 1 Indian Baptist Church officiating , assisted by Jimpsey Harjo. Wake service will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at the Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma. Casket beaers will be Bartin Looney, George Franks, Jason Tiger, Skip Foster, Walter Coker and Jerry Sumka. Honorary bearers will be Jess Freeman, Don Sutton, Jonas Alexander Carpitcher, Lee Wayne Wood, Ronald Notah and Anthony Notah.  Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: March 16, 2017, 2:00 PM