Jonathan Jorstad

Canton – Jonathan Kyle Jorstad, beloved husband, son, and friend to all passed away on August 2 at his home in Canton.

Jonathan came into this world with one goal in mind – he was going to be your friend whether you liked it or not. From an early age it was clear he was going to make his mark on this world, and everyone who knew him would feel the same love and passion he had for living life the fullest.

Jonathan grew up in the Bethel community of Haywood County, active from an early age in youth sports, with football being his greatest passion. He was a proud Bethel Blue Demon and Pisgah Black Bear, excelling both on and off the field. During these years, he also forged lifelong friendships that remained a driving force in his life until the end.

After graduating from Pisgah, Jonathan attended Western Carolina University and pursued his passion to play college football. He walked on with the Catamounts, achieving his goal. While at WCU, Jonathan joined Sigma Chi fraternity, and again made lasting friendships through his brotherhood that he carried with him the rest of his life. His days spent at WCU were some of the most treasured memories he had and his love for his alma mater continued as he remained an extremely active alumni and member of the Catamount Club.

After college, Jonathan pursued a career as a financial advisor, getting his start with Morgan Stanley and going on to have a very successful and rewarding 20+ year career in investments, with the past 10 spent at Suntrust/Truist Investments.

In the most recent years, he had the pleasure of becoming WPTL’s color commentator for the Pisgah High School football games. He could be heard every Friday night during football season doing what he loved so much – chatting about football and being a voice of entertainment for Pisgah Nation.

Jonathan was also highly active in multiple civic groups and volunteer organizations throughout his career, with the Lions Club of Canton and Rotary Club of Waynesville being his more recent outlets for doing what he did best – supporting the community that he loved so much.

In 2010 he met his wife, Anna, during a casual walk at the Canton Recreation Park, and after one date, the rest was history. They were married in April 2016 and celebrated their 5th anniversary this past spring. Together they loved to adventure and experience all the joys of their lives together, one of the greatest being their home on the Pigeon River. You could often find him playing fetch with Lincoln along the banks of the river and working tirelessly in his cherished rose garden.  Jonathan loved his friends and family more than anything and one of his favorite things to do was entertain them at their home. He was always ready to fire up the grill and strike up a bonfire.

Jonathan recently told one of his best friends, “I’m not afraid of dying, I’m just afraid of not living life to the fullest,” and in his 47 years, he no doubt lived his life beyond the fullest. His smile and laugh were contagious and if you were around him, you couldn’t help but laugh along with him. He was a joy to anyone he came into contact with and he was the epitome of what it means to be a good person, a helpful neighbor and a best friend. He will be missed beyond belief by his family, friends, coworkers, the WCU and Pisgah communities, his fraternity brothers, and everyone who was touched by his incredible life.

He is survived by his wife, Anna Jorstad, their goldendoodle, Lincoln, parents Jon and Susie Jorstad, father-in-law and mother-in-law Pat and Sherry Smathers, brother Jeremy Jorstad and his wife Leigh Jorstad, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Zeb and Ashley Smathers, and 1 niece, Callie Jorstad, and 2 nephews, Kyle Jorstad and Stone Smathers.

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at the Pisgah High School Football Stadium with the Reverend Dr. Bobby Nations officiating.

“In honoring Jonathan's legacy and in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the following:  The Jonathan K. Jorstad Annual Athletics Scholarship at the WCU Foundation, 1 University Drive, H.F. Robinson Building Ste. 201, Cullowhee, NC 28723. Checks should include a note to indicate the scholarship fund or gifts may be made online at http://give.wcu.edu/jorstad"; or the Jonathan K. Jorstad Scholarship Fund at the Haywood County Schools Foundation, 1230 N Main St, Waynesville, NC 28786.

The care of Jonathan has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes of Canton and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com