Jon Francis Hopper

HOPPER, JON FRANCIS

Of Kalamazoo, MI

Jon Francis Hopper was born to Sue Ann Borkowski Hopper on May 15, 1977. Coming into the world observant and with a serious furrowed gaze, he garnered comments that he would someday enter school with a briefcase rather than a backpack. This became true. Although his intense seriousness had mingled with a goofy sense of humor, an incredible kindness and a love for superheroes, he indeed had chosen a briefcase to kickstart his grade school years. Thoughtful from the beginning, he would walk in with his briefcase and take everyone's chairs from the tables without being instructed to do so.

As a child, he adored the likes of the incredible hulk and wanted so badly to be superman. To the point that he had disappeared at the mall as a small child, only to be found tying on a cape in a phone booth.

At the age of 10, Jon was hit by a drunk driver en route to get a prism for his mom on Mother's Day. Last rites were read and, against any doubt, he made it. A superhero in his own right, and in the eyes of his family, he learned everything he had learned up to that point - including walking and talking - all over again. To endure a high functioning brain injury proved to be an isolating and lonely road, but that compounded trial still did not stop him from graduating from Galesburg-Augusta High School in 1995.

Jon took some college courses and worked in customer service for a while, but eventually the isolation and lack of understanding from having a high functioning brain injury took its effects and he had been afraid. However, despite needing companionship and help himself, and staying true to the genuinely kind spirit he came into the world with, he was always eager to help others in any way he could, from general ideas to offering his immense physical strength for moving or other handy work. He held a huge interest in natural healing, alternative healing, chakras, sound therapies, energy work, and herbal and dietary remedies. Many remember him as a remedial encyclopedia in that sense - if someone said they were struggling or ailing in any form, there was Jon offering up a cure from the top of his head as a result of all his personal studies.

A healer who needed healing, Jon was also a teacher and he didn't even know it. Nor did those around him, completely, until they looked back. In a bustling world in which we easily take things for granted, in which we easily overlook the small things, in which we lose appreciation for what we have because we are always aiming for more, Jon had very, very little in life but his excitement in the smallest of things was always so huge. Likely a greater kind of excitement than you've ever seen, dear reader of this obituary, and his infectious laugh, which billowed and shook through his whole being, was the most memorable. What a gift we carry, among the many, many lessons.

Jon took his last conscious breath as a result of a heart attack on April 20, and passed away on April 27, 2019. He is survived by his mother, Sue Ann Borkowski Hopper; his sister, Jacklyn Hopper; his brother, Adam Tassell; and his best friend and furbaby Otis, whom he lovingly referred to as "Ots."

Please visit Jon's personalized web page and guest book to leave a condolence, personal message or special memory of Jon for the family at http://www.langelands.com