Jonathan Alexander Wild
He passed from this world at 3:00 a.m. on May 13, 2011. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Veteran's Memorial Hall in Lompoc, at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011.

Jonathan was born in Christopher, Illinois to Oscar Bonham and Mildred Virginia Tabor Wild on March 1, 1949. Oscar was a minister for independent Christian churches and specialized in helping new congregations build their churches. During Jonathan's youth the family lived in Frankfurt, Illinois; Long Beach, California; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Santa Barbara, California. Oscar retired and the family moved to Lompoc, California in 1974.

Jonathan was a "surfer dude" in high school. The Pacific Ocean was his big love. Music was also a huge draw. He never had any formal lessons: vocal practice was in the church choir and guitar practice was anywhere he could get it.

He decided he wanted to serve his country after he graduated from San Marcos High School in 1967. He dreamed of being a pilot, but less than perfect eye-sight prevented him from doing that. He became a machine gunner in a Search and Destroy unit in the Army's First Cavalry. He walked and slept with his unit in the jungles of Viet Nam twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, never sure whether or not the enemy might be behind the next tree. He experienced many horrendous episodes.

After fourteen months it was time to come home. His unit was crawling through elephant grass, about to engage the enemy. His boot was grabbed from behind and he heard a voice asking him if he was Jonathan Wild. He replied that he was and the person told him it was time to go home. He turned his head in amazement and saw a new, young recruit trembling with fear along with the man who was to take him out of there. He replied that he was a little busy and couldn't leave at the moment. He was told he had to leave right now. Unwillingly, Jonathan handed his machine gun to the unfortunate new guy. Thirty-six hours later he was at his parent's front door. He didn't know what happened to the men he left behind until he made a trip to the Vietnam Memorial twenty-six years later.

He met his wife, Jamie McFarlane in Kansas in May of 1976. They married on September 18 of that year. He is survived by his wife and three children. Shelby Wild and her husband, Tom Brown, along with their daughters, Leyna, 5 and Maizy, 2. Son, Jonathan Taylor (J.T.) and his wife, Meaghan (Haggerty) Wild and Caitlyn Wild and husband, Jacob Cole, all of Lompoc. Jonathan's parents preceded him in death. He has two sisters, Jacquelyn Rengstorff and her husband, Leslie Rengstorff of Bonita Springs, Florida, and Cheryl (Sherry) Wild and her longtime companion, David Chacey of Lompoc.

Family always came first. Family is the reason he didn't pursue his musical career in Los Angeles or Nashville. His need was to create magic in all things. He wore a genuine, 100 pound suit of armor at renaissance fairs. He clanked around speaking with every young child. It didn't take much to grab their attention, their eyes huge, seeing this Knight of the Old Code. He spoke with the little girls, calling each one of them a princess. He told them each how special they were. He told the little boys how important it was to be a Knight of the Old Code. They were to live their lives with strength, courage and valor. They were to use their strength to protect the people they loved, not for power. They all went away with smiles on their faces.

There are so many words with which to describe Jonathan Wild. His interests were many. He never understood the concept of "I can't do it." He was self- taught in many things. If he had a "how-to" book or an ear to bend, he could do it. He rebuilt car engines and anything else pertaining to cars and boats, He did woodworking, plumbing, fishing, animal husbandry, metal working, farming, tile working, clock making, computers, and any sport he decided he wanted to participate in.

He was an extraordinary human being and will be missed. His family is relieved that he suffers no more, but the hole in their lives will never be filled.