In Memory of Jon Hepner

100% of all proceeds go directly to the Hepner family to aid in Jon's daughter, Skylar, education.

To everyone who knew him, Jon tragically passed away early Wednesday morning, 11/9/22. We are all still reeling. He was truly an incredible man who made an impact on everyone he met. He will be loved and missed forever.

Please continue to read Jon's story below:

In the early morning of November 9, 2022, Jonathan Jay Hepner passed away at the age of 57 while on vacation with his family in Orlando, FL. He was a loving husband to Pupay and father to Shadrach and Skylar. Born in Crane, TX, Jon grew up in Rochester, NY and graduated from Northwest High School in Grand Island, Nebraska. He attended Great Lakes Bible College in Michigan and graduated from Temple University with a BA in Communications. Jon had a career in Technical Training at the Computer Application Learning Center and in Communications at Citi Group and KPMG prior to starting Aroy-D, The Thai Elephant, which encompassed a food truck, restaurant, and ice cream truck. He was an avid Yankees and Dolphins fan and a lifelong reader.

Jon had two primary loves in his life: his business and his family. In addition to starting the Thai Elephant with his wife Pupay, he further founded the New Jersey Food Truck Association with which he built a strong community of food truck owners. While work was important to him, Jon cared more than anything about his family. Conversations with Jon frequently involved proud stories of his children, anecdotes of his antics with his siblings as children, or excitement over upcoming travel plans to see everyone again.

Jon is preceded in death by his father, Thomas Hepner. Jon is survived by his wife Pupay, his daughter Skylar, his son Shadrach, his brothers David and Nate, his sister Rachel Potvin, and his mother Sharon Oakeson.

A viewing will be held on November 18th from 4pm-7pm at the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, NJ.

A Celebration of life will take place the same evening at Robert J. O'Toole Community Center, 199 Fairview Ave, Cedar Grove, NJ from 5pm - 9pm.

Actual service will start at 7:30pm.

Food Trucks will be onsite for refreshments.

Within the food truck community, Jon was a pioneer in the NJ scene. He spent countless hours assisting and guiding owners in getting their operations up and running while navigating the red tape, grey areas, and challenges faced within the industry. He was a huge supporter of food truck legislation efforts to help ease the complexities of food truck owners across the state. Jon will truly be missed by all the hearts he touched along the way.