ShawneeDispatch.com

Ryan Ely thought of Jon U as more than a friend; he was more like a brother.

When they were both students at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, U lived in the Goode Estates subdivision, just a few blocks away from Ely's house near 67th and Pflumm.

They played football for the Cougars and then worked at the former Checker's grocery store in Shawnee together. One year, U, Ely and another friend went to Daytona Beach for spring break. After graduating in 1994, they stayed in contact.

For Ely, who now lives in Olathe, it is hard to imagine that one of his four best friends is gone forever, even a week after his death.

"I still can't believe it actually," Ely said. "I can't believe it until I look in the paper, and then it hits me ... I just try to remember the good stuff we did."

Jonathan U, 29, Olathe, died Wednesday, June 8, at the Overland Park Regional Medical Center, leaving behind his family and his wife, who is expecting their first child. An act of heroism weeks before led to the injuries that caused U's death; he was attempting to stop a purse-snatcher in Olathe.

When a man grabbed the purse of a 60-year-old woman in a parking lot May 20, U tried to stop him, reaching into the getaway car to get the purse back. But the thief began to drive away, and with U still half in the car, he crashed into a building, pinning U against it.

Ely got a call from a friend at work that day, letting him know what happened. Like many familiar with U's caring personality, when Ely heard the story, he wasn't surprised that his friend had gone after the thief.

"I was shocked that it would happen to him, but I wasn't surprised that he did that," Ely said. "(He was) the type of guy that would help anybody; one of a kind."

U was known for his upbeat personality and his generosity toward others.

"He had a pretty glowing smile," Ely said. "Actually, every time you saw him, he was smiling."

Ely said one incident in particular exemplifies U's caring nature. Ely's mother has had kidney troubles, and after graduation, when U would call Ely, he would always ask about his mother's health. Once, U offered more than just concern and good wishes.

"He said he would donate a kidney to her if she needed it," Ely said, adding that he was blown away by U's sincerity. "It just shows you what kind of a heart of gold he had."

Visitation funeral services for Jon U were Tuesday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Overland Park, and burial followed in Resurrection Cemetery, 83rd and Quivira, Lenexa.

U was born Oct. 22, 1975, in Taegu, South Korea, and had lived most of his life in the Kansas City area. He was a graduate of the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in film and video. He was a video editor and producer for PlattForm Advertising for the past two years.

He is survived by his wife, Stephanie E. Sandgren, and their child to be born in August; his mother, Sky Woo; and his brother, James U.

In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to; Jonathan U, The Good Samaritan Fund, in care of any Gold Bank. Arrangements by: Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, 438-6444.