Obituary of Jonathan Z. Panek
Jonathan Z. Panek, 32, of Farmingdale passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune surrounded by his family, girlfriend, and close friends. He was born in Freehold and raised in Farmingdale. Jon graduated from Colts Neck High School in 2005, where he was a captain of the wrestling team. He spent a year in Syracuse and Binghamton, New York working with his Uncle Ed and Uncle Alex exploring all phases of heavy construction. His free days were spent working and learning about cars from his Uncle Rick and enjoying his extended family. In 2016, Jon went to Florence, South Carolina where he began a tree business when Hurricane Matthew hit. His brother Chris joined him for five months to get the business up and running. He continued doing landscape and tree work from Florence to Lake Marion, South Carolina and made so many friends along the way. In October of 2018, he returned home to Farmingdale to partner with his father in the family landscaping business. As a young boy he learned everything he could about nature and used that knowledge to grow the business. Jon was part of the British Car Club, enjoyed freshwater fishing, and had a love for animals and all living things. He was mechanically inclined and had a passion for working on motorcycles, cars and trucks. Most recently, he was looking forward to living a simple life with his family and love, Sheryl.
Through these tragic events, Jon was able to share the gift of life with four other people with his donation through the Gift of Life Program.
He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Charles Barcellona and Dorothy Barcellona; paternal grandparents, Walter Panek and his wife, Janina; three uncles, Donald Wright, George Panek, and Michael Panek. He is survived by his parents, Waldemar and Gail Panek of Farmingdale; brother, Christopher Panek of Farmingdale; girlfriend, Sheryl George of Farmingdale; aunts and uncles, Wilma Wright of Manalapan, Andrew Panek and his wife, Lyanne of Ballston Spa, NY, Raymond Panek and his wife, Shiela of Syracuse, NY, Richard Panek and his wife, Cheryl of Cicero, NY, Barbara Kempf and her husband, Edward of Parish, NY, Julianna Eller of Syracuse, NY, Cecilia Cerul and her husband, Daniel of Syracuse, NY, Thomas Panek and his wife, Teri of Syracuse, NY, Tina Panek of Syracuse, NY, Robert Panek and his wife, Joyce of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Edmund Panek of Syracuse, NY, Lucylia Eddy and her husband, Nelson of Ithaca, NY, Peter Panek of Syracuse, NY, Alexander Panek and his wife, Toni of Syracuse, NY, and Regina Winterich and her husband, Shawn of Marrietta, Georgia; numerous cousins, extended family, and friends.
Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 10:00 AM Funeral Mass at the Holy Innocents Church, 3455 West Bangs Ave, Neptune on Thursday, September 19, 2019 . Interment will be private. For those who desire, memorial contributions in Jonathan’s name may be made to the Sharing Network, 691 Central Ave, New Providence, New Jersey 07974. For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com
