Jonathan Lawrence Dickman

Jon Dickman, 66, died from a rare form of lung cancer on October 18, 2023, at Trios Hospital in Kennewick, Washington.

He was born November 17, 1956, in Walla Walla, Washington, to Larry and Elaine Dickman. The family eventually moved to Kennewick, where Jon spent most of his youth.

As a kid, Jon loved to have fun. His cousin Rachelle remembers him as her adventurous playmate, riding around in a metal toy car together. Jon's family was one of the first on the block to get a color TV, which was exciting because he could watch Batman and his favorite Speed Racer cartoon in color.

His best friend from elementary school to adulthood, Dale Wycoff, remembers many hijinks with the two of them. In high school, they liked to cruise on the weekends in Jon's Pontiac Firebird or Dale's '56 Chevy.

At age 23, Jon met his soulmate Christal while they were both serving on jury duty in Prosser, Washington. This union lasted for 42 years, and brought two wonderful boys into the world: Bryant, now 40, and Erik, now 38.

Bryant and Erik remember many adventures with Jon, including launching bottle rockets, skiing and golfing trips, fishing, camping under the stars, riding rollercoasters at Six Flags, and traveling to concerts and professional sports games. They drove fast in four-wheelers, a Honda Odyssey with a roll cage in the sand dunes, and go-carts. They traveled to France and Monaco together.

Jon was an attentive dad and role model.  One time, Jon left work and tracked down one of his sons who had skipped school to play video games at an arcade. The ensuing conversation was about responsibility and making the most of your life. Both boys remember their dad sharing wise decisionmaking skills and tools that they still use today.

Jon led a distinguished career in the grocery business. His 40 years at Albertsons included numerous management roles including National Category Manager, Sales Manager, Division Grocery Sales Manager, and VP of Marketing & Merchandising.

Over the years, this career took the family to Washington, Texas, Montana, Utah, and Idaho. As Erik put it, "We kept moving because he was just TOO DANG GOOD at what he did. Division under-performing? Send Dad! Division needs some help with direction and being started from scratch? Send Dad! Got a brand new store opening that needs leadership? Dad to the rescue."

Colleagues remember him as always positive, exceptional with people, empathetic while getting things done, and sacrificial with his time. He treated everyone with respect and made a point of knowing about peoples' lives beyond work.

One colleague remembers how Jon helped him with a business presentation by finding a video clip of a mouse singing to cheese in a trap, "I believe in miracles." Another colleague remembers opening the first new Albertsons store in Missoula, Montana with Jon and staying up all night talking with all the new team members who had just moved there from different parts of the country, then waking up at 6 am the next morning for the grand opening.

One of Jon's proudest memories was when he was at Albertson's in Utah. In the run-up to the 2002 winter Olympics, Jon was chosen to carry the flame part of the way as the torch traveled to the Salt Lake City venue.

Jon was Christal's rock when she was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's disease in 2013. He did everything he could to make her life easier.

In 2020, Jon and Christal moved back to Kennewick so Jon could help his then-86-year-old dad Larry manage Estherbrook, Inc., a Saladmaster dealership specializing in high-end cookware for healthy eating. The next few years saw Jon traveling to events throughout Washington, demonstrating the specialty cookware while forming new friendships. The Estherbrook dealership received national and international awards. It also enabled Jon and family members to travel to Hawaii several times, as recently as September 2023.

A special memory of Jon's was a 2019 cruise with his dad to Italy, Greece, and Israel. In his compelling storytelling fashion, Jon recounted the details of the history, culture, food, and people. He delighted in learning new things. His license plate was LIVLIF.

Jon was a lifelong follower of Christ, with C3 Tri-Cities in Richland his most recent home church. You knew he was a Christian by the way he treated everyone around him with compassion and respect. Even while struggling with lung cancer, he was always asking about other peoples' lives and making sure his family was taken care of. He left a legacy of integrity and righteousness. Our hearts are broken without him on earth, but we take comfort in knowing that we will see him again.

Jon is survived by wife Christal, sons Bryant and Erik, father Larry, brothers Mike and Dave, and aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and their families. He joins his mother Elaine in heaven.

Jon has requested that any memorial donations be made to the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation, nwpf.org.