Jonathan's Family History

Jonathan's History

Jonathan's upbringing was anything but conventional. Born into a missionary family, he embarked on his first journey to Guatemala at the tender age of three. Raised within the confines of a modest 22x8 foot camper, Jonathan's childhood was a nomadic odyssey traversing the landscapes of Mexico and Guatemala. His musical journey began at the age of four when his brother Noah expressed a desire to learn the violin. Seeing an opportunity for familial harmony, his parents decided to immerse the entire family in the world of music.

Amidst their medical mission work, the family discovered a passion for nurturing musical talent, leading to the establishment of youth orchestras across Mexico and Guatemala. Jonathan found himself at the forefront of this endeavor, teaching countless children the art of the violin. Guiding young musicians from the humble beginnings of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" to the grandeur of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" became a defining chapter of his life, cherished with heartfelt nostalgia.

At the age of thirteen, Jonathan and his sister Sarah had the remarkable opportunity to perform with the UTPA University for several months. To fund their ongoing mission work, the family embarked on an entrepreneurial venture, selling brownies and bread door-to-door in Texas. However, their plans took an unexpected turn in 2018 when Jonathan's father fell ill, prompting their return to the United States.

Transitioning to life in Arkansas, Jonathan initially found employment at a local bakery before seizing an opportunity as an engagement specialist at Sam's Club. It was during this period of stability that he began to explore his musical talents further, crafting some of his most memorable original compositions, including "Falling Stars" and "Heart's Palisade." These formative experiences shaped Jonathan's artistic journey, instilling in him a deep appreciation for resilience and creativity.

Jonathan's Paternal Ancestry

Jonathan wasn’t the first in his family to play the violin. Here's a picture of his great-grandfather, Garfield Unruh, from his mother’s side of the family and a picture of his grandmother and great aunt with their violins.

Violin has been a part of Jonathan’s family for many generations. His grandmother and great aunt were twins and grew up playing violin together. Jonathan’s great grandfather, Garfield Unruh, and his two daughters (Jonathan’s grandmother and great aunt) would play on the street corners of Milwaukee, Wisconsin while their father would present small sermons. Later, they would go on to become some of the first participants of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Jonathan's Maternal Ancestry

Jonathan's mother, Coleen grew up in Wisconsin on a small dairy farm. Her father enjoyed the outdoors and raising wildlife in the forest behind their house. He and his two brothers milked 14 cows and grew all of the crops to support their animals. They drilled water wells to earn a living. Her mother had a love of gardening and Coleen was involved in the growing and preserving of the bounties produced by the land. Coleen was surrounded by animals and birds from a young age, and as she grew she developed an interest in drawing and painting the wildlife and creatures she was surrounded by. In high school she won several awards for her art work. To this day she still paints wildlife and loves to do gardening.

Jonathan's Parental History

At a young age Chris enjoyed pottery in his art classes at school. Shortly after he married Coleen in Arizona, they moved to Cashton, Wisconsin and decided to combine their talents and interests by creating a small business and named it Mudwasp Originals. Chris threw the pottery on a wheel and Coleen hand painted the bowls, cups, vases and other dishware by hand. After three years Chris returned to college to finish his degree and they moved to Menomonie, Wisconsin where Sarah and Jonathan were born. When Jonathan was about a year old they moved to St. Johns, Michigan and started a bakery. The bakery was a huge success but unsustainable because of the hours involved. While there, they met a family who had done mission work in Guatemala. Inspired, they applied with several organizations and although they were approved, the organizations were reluctant to send such a large family. Rejecting the suggestion to send the children to boarding school, they decided to go on their own to Guatemala and to start the process of learning Spanish. In the beginning they focused on medical projects, but as people took interest in their children playing violins it evolved into a music-oriented mission.