Jonathan Peter Macdonald

Jonathan Peter MacDonald, of Lander, died Friday, Aug. 28, while climbing Pingora Peak in the Wind River Range. He was 23 years old.
A memorial service will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Central Wyoming College Sinks Canyon Center. A second memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at the Mitchell Evangelical Free Church with a celebration of life service following at 4 p.m. at Heritage Estates in Gering, Neb.
Jonathan Peter MacDonald was born May 6, 1992, in Norfolk, Va., the son of David and Doris MacDonald. He grew up in Scottsbluff, Neb., where his family said he fell in love with medicine and rock climbing.
He earned an associate degree in outdoor leadership and education from CWC in Riverton, which his family said, "only heightened his passion as a first responder." They said he was prepared to start his final year of nursing school with a speech for the incoming class: "How to survive your first year of nursing school."
His family said he was passionate about emergency medicine, actively participating as a member of Fremont and Sublette emergency medical services and search and rescue. He also worked as a certified nursing assistant in the medical surgical unit at SageWest Health Care at Lander.
His family said his ultimate dream, of becoming a doctor, would allow him to save lives in the emergency room and eventually work with Doctors Without Borders.
They said his love for the outdoors and climbing gave him the dream to one day climb Mount Everest, but most times he could be found climbing at Vedauwoo near Laramie or in Sinks Canyon, two of his favorite spots to climb.
He shared his passions with his 20-month-old daughter, Sappho Obsidian, and he was happiest when he was taking her hiking to his favorite places. They said he was looking forward to teaching her and his unborn child to swim, camp and rock climb.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy; daughter Sappho and a baby due in February; parents; siblings Zach and Elizabeth MacDonald; and a close community of friends and family who already miss him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Gerry Dickinson, Roland "Mac" MacDonald and Marjorie Jean Erickson MacDonald; uncle Jamie Dickinson; and aunt Geraldine Dickinson Overton.
Memorial contributions for his children may be made to any U.S. Bank to the estate of Jonathan Peter MacDonald. An endowment scholarship has been established at Central Wyoming College nursing program in care of the CWC Foundation in Riverton.