Jonathan H. Rainbow

1951 - 2010

Mr. Jonathan H. Rainbow died peacefully at his home in Visalia, CA and entered his heavenly home on Tuesday, June 8, 2010.

He was born the oldest son of John and Priscilla Rainbow on June 14, 1951 in Minneapolis, MN. He would have been 59 years old on his birthday. When he was a young boy, the Rainbow family moved to Pomona, CA, where Jonathan attended school and graduated from Pomona High School in 1969. He continued his studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he met his wife, Pat Weimortz Rainbow. They were married on July 8, 1972. Jonathan attended seminary at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. After seminary, the Rainbows moved to Heil, North Dakota where he pastored his first church and started a family. He later earned a doctoral degree in Reformation History at UCSB. From there he moved to Porterville, CA with his family and was a pastor for seven years before becoming a teacher of history, Bible, and Honors English at Central Valley Christian High School in Visalia, CA.

Jonathan Rainbow loved music and was a great story-teller, two passions that came together in the four full-length operas he composed and produced in local theaters. He leaves to his family, friends, students and many who have been blessed by his preaching, a legacy of faithful service to his Lord and bold preaching of the Word of God.

Jonathan is survived by his wife, Pat of 38 years; three children, Hannah Ploegstra (John) of Visalia, Jesse Rainbow (Andrea) of Somerville, MA, and David Rainbow (Brady) of Glen Ridge, N.J. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Esther, Jack, Hazel, Marybelle, Gretchen, Susanna, and Dorothy; his parents, Jack and Teda Rainbow of Pomona, CA; his brothers, Matthew Rainbow of Lancaster, CA, and Nathan Rainbow (Connie) of Claremont, CA; his mother-in-law Dorothy Weimortz of Visalia; sisters-in-law Becky Gilson (Ken) of Visalia, Debbie Blunt (Joe) of Vancouver, WA; and brother-in-law, Ed Weimortz (Kathy) of Woodland, CA; 14 nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be held at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel in Visalia, CA on Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 9 a.m. to noon. A memorial service will follow at Trinity United Reformed Church in Visalia at 1 p.m. Pastors Jathan Newton and Adrian Dieleman will officiate. Jonathan will be laid to rest in Heil, North Dakota at Prairie View Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to a memorial scholarship in Jonathan Rainbow's name at Central Valley Christian High School, 5600 W. Tulare Ave., Visalia, CA 93277, or the Care Pregnancy Center of Visalia, 916 West Oak St., Visalia, CA 93291.

Condolences may be e-mailed to salseranddillard@aol.com">salseranddillard@aol.com">salseranddillard@aol.com">salseranddillard@aol.com.