Jon
Lines passed to the beyond in the early morning hours on August 8
after a brief struggle with a hard illness. Surrounded by family,
friends, and a soundtrack curated by siblings, cousins, nieces and
nephews, he left this world with the love and care he brought to it.
Growing
up in the South End of Burlington, in a neighborhood full of
adventure and endless days of fun, Jon was the oldest of the Lines
siblings born to Stratty and Beverly.
Down
on South Cove, between Red Rocks Park and Oakledge in the ’70/’80s,
some of the most epic games of Four Square, Witch and Prison Ball
would ensue among the dozens of kids throughout the neighborhood.
And
of course, there were also days of hanging out and eating at the
family business, the Oasis Diner on Bank Street downtown.
Like
so many generations of Greek diner families, Jon started working at
the Oasis in his early teens and then branched out for a time and got
a commercial driver’s license. For a few years, he drove trucks for
Merrill Transport, until the Oasis beckoned (Stratty needed a
reliable cook) and he and his father forged a path that countless
family businesses had trod before. Jon’s tireless work ethic,
skills at the grill and gift for gab made him a natural.
In
the mid-’90s, Jon took over the Oasis and was joined by brother
David to run the show for a decade. After selling the business in
2007, he went to work for Barrett Trucking. The Barretts had been
part of the extended diner family, and Jon became an indispensable
member of the team until his recent illness. In these years, he was
living a little kid’s dream of driving trucks and tractors for a
living.
He
was especially proud and always ready — no matter the time of day
or number of hours behind the wheel — to aid in the now-annual
flood recovery in Vermont, as Barrett trucks have become a key
component of recovery efforts.
Jon
is predeceased by his mother and father, Bev and Stratty, and his
Uncle Chris, who helped manage the diner for many years and was an
essential part of the fabric of Church Street. He is survived by
brothers Gary and David and sister Maria and their partners; his five
nieces and nephews, to whom he was a wonderful uncle; several close
cousins; and a host of friends, including his crew at the Pour House
and the Pub.
The
family would like to extend deep gratitude to all the staff and
medical professionals of University of Vermont Medical Center. Their
dedication, care, understanding and vast well of integrity will be
forever appreciated. They are navigating so much in today’s world,
and their resolute ability to help so many families like ours while
dealing with endless crises should make this city proud of what it’s
built for the challenging future.
Jon
was a part of building the future — from building community through
the diner to delivering materials for roads and bridges. He is gone
too soon and will be deeply missed by many.
Visiting
hours will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 14, at the Corbin
and Palmer Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant St in Essex Junction. A private
burial for family and friends will take place the following day. A
celebration of life is planned for September 14 — details to
follow.
This article appears in Aug 6-12, 2025.