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At the age of 16 and with his father’s signature, Fon enlisted in the U.S. Navy. At the age of 24, he was onboard the USS Panay gunboat when it was sunk in the Yangtze River in China on Dec. 12, 1937. That sinking marked the first act of aggression by the Japanese against the United States prior to World War II.
While on leave in Norfolk, Va., Fon met and fell in love with Lillian (Homberger) Schwarz. They were married in November 1945 and had daughters, Nancy in 1946 and Gayle in 1949. Fon loved Navy life and continued his career until his retirement as a chief petty officer in June 1949.
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In 1972, Fon and Lillian left Minnesota and moved first to Summerville, Fla., and then permanently to Titusville, Fla., where they both lived until 2006 when Lillian passed away. Several months later, at the urging of his children, Fon moved to Sierra Vista to live with his oldest daughter and her husband.
Fon was preceded in death by his parents and all of his brothers and sisters. He is survived by his daughters, Nancy (Steve) Ferguson of Sierra Vista and Gayle (Rusty) Pickus of Fairbanks, Alaska; and his grandsons, James Pickus of Seattle, Ore., and Jeffrey Pickus of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Fon will be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery. Per his request, there will be no services. Arrangements provided by Jensen’s Mortuary of Sierra Vista, at the direction of East Coast Cremation in Rockledge, Fla.
Pastor Rod Stalsberg wrote on Dec 31, 2008 6:30 PM: