Born May 24, 1963
Burlington, Vermont
Died Aug. 8, 2025
Burlington, Vermont
Details of services
Visiting hours will be from 4 – 6pm on Thursday, August 14 at the Corbin and Palmer funeral home, 9 Pleasant St in Essex Jct. A private burial for family and friends will take place the following day. A celebration of life is planned for September 14th – details to follow.
Jon Lines
5/24/1963 – 8/8/2025
Jon Lines passed to the beyond in the early morning hour on August 8th 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 4 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 drivers 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 nineties 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 pre-deceased 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, 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 UVMMC. 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.
