John Michael Tonjes

John Michael Tonjes, 57, formerly of Burnt Hills and Buffalo, NY passed away peacefully into eternal life on 8 May 2024 at Erie County Medical Centre, Buffalo, NY.

John lived life large and felt love deeply. He was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants. John was a giver and enjoyed sharing his love of baseball with young people by coaching girls' softball and umpiring, a passion he picked up from his dad. John was also a motorcycle enthusiast. Getting his first dirt bike when he was young, he was hooked and became an avid rider. His motorcycle trips took him all across the eastern United States but he had a special place in his heart for the Blue Ridge Mountains and its eponymous Blue Ridge Parkway.

He graduated from Burnt Hills Ballston Lake High School where he excelled in athletics and developed a passion for motorcycles. John obtained his CASAC had a career in addiction treatment that spanned several decades. John worked at many treatment facilities in his life time such as the Hospitality House, Bridge Centre, ACT Team. Hope House and most recently at Clearview Treatment Facility in Buffalo NY.

John was the father of John Tonjes Jr., Megan Tonjes, and Quinn Tonjes, the brother and brother-in law of Catherine and Tim Williams, Tiffany and Rodney Lewis, and Christopher Tonjes. He was the uncle of Claire Williams-Sauer and Jess Sauer, Nicholas Williams, and Ashley and Scott Salmon.

He was reunited with his birth-mother Annette (Nan) Roth, sisters and brother-in-laws as well as nieces and nephews, Kim and Tony Dobiesz and their children Matthew and Olivia Dobiesz, Jesse and Phil Ostrowski and their children, Reid, Lola, and Emmet Ostrowski, and Kristen and Rob Wood. John is preceded by his father and mother, Arthur and Rosemary Tonjes, and his birth-father Bruce Feathers whom John was the spitting image of, and his son Jake Tonjes.

Click here to watch the Celebration of Life service for John https://vimeo.com/935889667.There were two Celebration of Life services offered for the friends and family who loved John in Albany and Buffalo on:

Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 10 o'clock at Shenendehowa United Methodist Church, 971 NY Route 146, Clifton Park, N.Y. 12065. All are welcome.

Please join us for a light lunch offered immediately following the service. We would love to share the stories of how John touched our lives.

Tuesday June 4th from 4-8 pm at New Comer Funeral Home 5090 Transit Road, Depew, NY 14043. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in John's name to the Healing Springs Recovery and Outreach Center in Saratoga Springs NY, Hearts for Homeless in Buffalo NY, or a charity of your choice.