Otto K. Jonas, Lieutenant Colonel, was born April 14, 1910, in South Beloit, IL, to immigrants from Germany. Graduated from Beloit College, Beloit, IL in 1932 and Andover-Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, MA, in 1936.

Otto reported for active duty in the Army at Fort Sheridan, IL, in July 1942. He served there as post chaplain before being appointed senior chaplain of the 228th General Hospital, the first all male hospital to be sent overseas in WWII. The 228th served in St. Quentin, France, before relieving the Third General Hospital at Aix en Provence, France. His final duty overseas was as chaplain of the American University in Biarritz, France.

Served in the Massachusetts Army National Guard with the 772nd Antiaircraft Battalion and transferred to the Reserves in 1961, serving as Boston’s post chaplain. In 1962, he moved to Seattle, WA, serving numerous Reserve units and retired in April 1970 as a lieutenant colonel.

He served churches in Sharon, Lynnfield and Walpole, MA, before moving to the state of Washington to serve the Fauntleroy Untied Church of Christ and the Eagle Harbor Congregation Church on Bainbridge Island. After retiring in 1975, he served as interim pastor in New Hampshire and Washington State.

Married Ruth C. Morgan on June 15, 1933. Otto and his wife, Ruth, were married for 63 years. She helped him with his ministries and gave much of her time to raising their children. She died in 1996.

Otto K Jonas