Jonah E. Ribera

On Thursday, January 26, 2023, our beloved son, brother, uncle, grandson, and cousin, Jonah Earl Ribera was ushered into the presence of Jesus. Jonah was born on September 30, 1991, in Fresno, California to Mitch and Jami Ribera. Being the 3rd in the birth order, after Jenna & Jordan, and weighing in at 9 lbs. 10 ounces, Jonah was a big bundle of JOY! An easy go-with-the-flow baby, Jonah added personality and fun to our family. We completed our roster with Jaycee and our family of 6 soon became TeamRibera.
His elementary school years were filled with neighborhood shenanigans on Palisade Drive, football, baseball, soccer, and lots of church activities at Northwest Church where he met Jesus as his personal Savior. During this season, mom and dad were called to plant a church – New Harvest, which consumed an enormous amount of time, energy, and sacrifice from our family. We are so proud of the investment our children made in our church, community, and the lives of so many people. Jonah was a big part of that. His contagious, loving personality created so many connections and drew many families to church. Going to church at the Clovis West cafeteria (where our kids attended school and where New Harvest gathered for 7 years) always made for good lunchtime conversation. His username for his AOL account was aclassclown247 which was the exact definition of Jonah's charismatic personality.
Jonah had a big social network and was always a champion for the underdog. Big hugs, a warm smile, and a positive word was how Jonah rolled. A jokester at heart, laughter came with the territory. He was a master impersonator of many local pastors including his pop. His love for the outdoors took him many places where he enjoyed God's Country and the Peace that it brings. Eventually, he made his way to Oregon for several years where he got grafted into the Reyes family where they lovingly walked him through a difficult season of life. He spent 2 summers working at Hume Lake - One year as a camp counselor and the next as the Wagon Train Worship Leader. These two years at Hume were lifegiving for the campers and staff where he was affectionately called, "Big Tuna." His Hume experience became his motivation to re enroll in college and study to become an elementary school teacher finally realizing his passion and calling. His 1st semester back, he was so proud to have made the Dean's list, and we were so proud of him too.
Our final chapter together began in April of 2021, when Jonah came home to be a part of his Grammy's Celebration of Life service where he wrote and read a poem in her honor. It was an eventful chapter of life. Highs and Lows, ups and downs, twists, and turns, led Jonah to a defining moment in his life, SOBRIETY. The last eight months were a gift from GOD. All his time was laser focused on reconnecting with his family. TeamRibera was back - full throttle. Uncle Jo was the light of his niece and nephews' lives. We spent countless hours on road trips, hikes, family meals, Jacuzzi time, concerts, birthdays, Hume Lake Men's Conferences, garage gym workouts, remodeling our house, unpaid babysitting, and firing up the Traeger (he was a Traeger master and excellent chef). Jonah was the catalyst for joy in our home, where he lived – his happy place. One of his great delights was landing a serving job at Saizon, Fresno's most prestigious fine dining establishment where he was a YELP review favorite – no surprise. Although our time together was too short, TeamRibera lives on.
Jonah will be forever treasured in the hearts of his parents, Mitch & Jami Ribera, his siblings, Jenna and Trenton McGill, Jordan and Jennie Ribera, Jaycee Ribera, and Gage Freeman and the absolute joys of his life – Kase & Kolt McGill, Cristiano, Eva Marie, & Draper Ribera, and Memphis & Mason Freeman – his Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins, and an army of Friends.
"We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." -Hebrews 6:19a
"But I trust You, LORD: I say, "You are my God. My times are in your hands -Psalm 31:14-15
To make a contribution in Jonah's memory, go to hume.org/give and select the designation (a required field) as "The Campership Fund", in the "Leave a comment" section put in "In memory of Jonah Ribera". Thank you for your loving gift!
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