The family of Jonathan Arthur Sykes is saddened to announce his sudden passing due to a heart attack on Saturday, January 11, 2025 at the age of 45. His goofiness and infectious smile will be missed most of all by his two sons: Trenton (Kendra Cook) and Tyler Sykes, his parents: Mike and Dolly Sykes, his siblings: Matthew Sykes and Sarah Helton, and her sons: Dakota Countryman (Curtis Zgoda)and Toby Helton. They take comfort in knowing that they now have a guardian angel with the most unselfish heart. Jonathan made his grand entrance on June 9, 1979. As a young boy, he loved winning games of hide and seek with his Great Aunt Barb and driving tractor with his Grandpa Sykes. He learned his A,B,C’s and holding his breath under water from his Aunt Lisa. His Uncle Ed taught him how to bake bread after school. He kept up the generational tradition of exploring the Limerick Caves with his Uncle Dan. Mike and Dolly learned to appreciate his artwork on his bedroom ceiling. As he got older, he taught Matthew how to jump off the monkey bars into the sand pile without breaking a bone. And he ate stale MREs with Sarah while hiding out in their fort. Even if they won’t admit it, they will miss his teasing and antics. His proudest teen accomplishment was finally talking his grandpa into taking him hunting with his cousin, DJ, on Grandpa’s land, a feat only a rare few have accomplished. He attended General Brown High School and studied the electrical trade at B.O.C.E.S., while spending a summer haying at Davidson’s Farm. He always enjoyed hunting and fishing with his life long friend, Sean Sullivan, however Jonathan did more “shooting the bull” than shooting deer. He was always a child at heart which made him such a great father. Trenton and Tyler were his pride and joy and he loved catching lots of fish with them, especially the time Trenton out-fished him with his secret hip technique. He worked for several years at Marks Dairy Farm in Lowville, where he was very successful in AI breeding. He moved on to Canastota and Turning Stone Casino as a security guard and volunteering in the local Fire Department. He tried his hand at containerboard manufacturing at WestRock in Syracuse. Then finally found his place at Iconex receipt and label manufacturers in Liverpool. Next time you see a sticky order label on a Starbucks cup, think of Jonathan, he probably made it! His friendliness and upbeat attitude will be forever missed by his coworkers. He took after his Great Grandpa Lee in the way that he could make a friend out of anyone. He had a gift of making someone laugh or brightening their day, even if he wasn’t having a good day of his own. Numerous other great aunts, great uncles, and cousins will also miss his easy going personality, he was always eager to visit and catch up with them. He was welcomed into heaven with a headbutt from his godfather, Kenny Hanson, and also his grandparents: John and Alice Sykes, and Raymond and Eunice Baldwin; and Jimmy Wilton. Jonathan will be honored at Johnson’s Funeral Home, Dexter, on Tuesday, January 21 at 2pm. Immediately after, stories, memories, and food will be shared at the Rustic Golf Course. Online condolences may be left at www.dexterfuneralhome.com
Let the memory of Jonathan be with us forever.
Letter from a family friend My earliest memory of Jonathan was when I was about 6 or 7 years old, when I met my new best friend Sarah's older brothers. With my family's cottage being across the street from their family home and my fast growing friendship with Sarah, I soon became a semi permanent summer fixture as the 4th sykes child and a 2nd little sister to Jonathan, early on sent to annoy him as little sisters are often sent to do. Over the years of summer visits countless numbers of happy memories were made. From swimming days, amusement park, movie nights, 4th of july fireworks sports play as one of the boys, and my inevitable injuries that came with it, dancing in the yard with sarah as Jonathan played cotton eyed joe on repeat, fishing and camping trips, staying up late by the campfire eating smores and being scared by the chainsaw sounds in the dark (which was really just bullfrog mating season) Jonathan grew into the big brother I never knew I wanted, The big brother I never knew I really needed.
From childhood to adolescence to adulthood, even when years would pass between communications it never felt like any time had passed. Things would seemingly pick up where they left off. Jonathan was always the rock, the listener, the one to go to for a kind word, a loyal and dedicated family man, a lover of fishing, camping and country life, the one who always put the wellbeing and needs of those he loved above his own. His old fashion values and his heart of gold made him truly a special, one of a kind person that this world was blessed to have.
Usually, and the Sykes family can attest, I am not one that is often short on words, however on the morning of Jan 12, 2025 when Sarah called to inform me of Jonathan's sudden, unexpected passing I was rendered quite speechless. In shock and disbelief and unable to focus on much of anything for most of the day, I took a walk in the country woods. As I walked, I talked to Jonathan, Expressing any feeling that popped into my head. How I hoped he knew much he really meant to me, how important he was to so many, how thankful I am to have had him as an older brother since childhood, my thanks and appreciation for our years of family friendship and the daily texts of friendship over the last year and a half as he became one of my closest friends. My feelings of being cheated out of more time with him, My sorrows for each call I didn't make, for forgetting to respond to texts, being distant the last few weeks with sharing the craziness of things on my end and how much I will deeply, deeply miss him.
In all that I looked up to see, on one of the few small clouds in the sky sat a small snippet of rainbow. In that moment of solace amongst the trees, with my sobs being the only sound, I knew that he was still listening, still looking out for me, helping to send reassurance that he was safely making his way on the next part of his journey.
Thank you, Jonathan, for the many wonderful things you brought to my life. Be at peace and be safe my brother, my friend, With all of my heart, I miss you, I love you, love always, Your Nikki
Resting place · Dexter Cemetery, Dexter, New York
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