Jonathan Wayne Bratten

Jonathan Wayne Bratten, 71, of Honolulu Hawaii, passed away on January 12, 2023. Jon was born on November 17, 1951 in Berkeley, California, the second child of Fred and Ruth (Darling) Bratten. After his father’s graduation, the family moved to Riverside California. Jon grew up working with his father in their garage woodshop, but as he grew into his teen years, Jon’s interest turned to motorcycles. As soon as he was old enough, he purchased a couple of old motorcycles to create one working version and began a lifetime of tinkering with, riding, and racing motorcycles.
In 1969 Jon graduated from John W. North High school, along with friends who loved hotrods, motorcycles, and the Beach Boys. Jon’s specialty was doing “wheelies” on his motorbike, which led to one too many tickets - a judge revoked his education deferment from the military draft. To comply with the judgement, Jon joined the U.S. Army. His sharp mind and abilities earned him top grades in advanced training and led to his assignment to the Signal Corps at Fort Shafter on Oahu in 1972. He served as the Army representative in a 4-man multi-service team supporting the joint command. The team was tasked with guarding against communication failures, like the one that failed to provide warning of the impending the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1942.
For Jon, motorcycles were never far from his mind. Shortly after his arrival on Oahu, he purchased a bike, and with two guys who became lifetime friends, founded the Honda of Hawaii race team. In addition to competing in motocross and flat track racing with the team, Jon wrote pieces for a racing magazine. After being discharged from the Army in 1977 with a National Defense Service Medal, Jon worked as the service manager at Waimea Falls Park, a job he loved for its beautiful setting. He also continued racing, and writing about racing, while embarking on a degree program in international business and marketing at the University of Hawaii. While attending, Jon was a newscaster and DJ at the college radio station KTUH. After graduation in 1987, he launched his lifetime career as a systems engineer at a pivotal time in history when tech savvy people like Jon were establishing the first local networks and company email servers.
Jon was known to his friends, family and colleagues as a problem solver who loved a challenge, a tech wizard, and kindhearted person who loved to laugh and make others laugh. He was both a very private person and warmly social. He will be remembered for his hugs, his quick wit and the warmth and intensity he brought to his relationships with family and friends.
Jon is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Ruth, and his older sister Susan. He is survived by his younger sister Jill, his niece Cindy, and cousins Joseph, Lisa, Allen, Philip, and Dollie. He also leaves behind a wide circle of longtime friends, colleagues, extended family, and in-laws in many places around the world. He will be deeply missed, and his passing has left a deep hole in our lives.
Jon’s celebration of life will be held on February 18th at 2:00 pm in the Makiki Christian Church, 829 Pensacola St., Honolulu, Hawaii. He will be interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on February 20th. To be added to a mailing list for further updates (if you are not on it already), or to contribute photos, tributes, or memories to be added to Jon’s memorial video, please email Jill at JB@JDarling.com.

This obituary has been written by the Bratten 'Ohana.