Ronald J. Jones

ELK HORN, Iowa -- Ronald James Jones, 66, of Elk Horn died Monday, Jan. 28, 2008, at Countryside Retirement Home in Sioux City following a long illness.

The body was cremated. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 1, 2008, at Zion Lutheran Church in Gowrie, Iowa, with the Rev. Jim Davis officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City.

Ron was born Aug. 28, 1941, near Havelock, Iowa, to James and Elva (Lent) Jones. He grew up on the family farm outside of Mallard, Iowa, and helped on the farm. He graduated from Mallard High School in 1959. He received a bachelor of science degree from Southwestern College in Marshall, Minn., in 1972. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Ron married Charlene Smith in 1960. To this marriage, three children were born, Rod, Robin and Randy. He married Denice Gustafson in 1968. To this marriage, two children were born, Kirsten and Daniel. He married Barbara Lund in 1993.

Ron taught biology for one year in LaCrescent, Minn., and he retained a strong interest in the biological sciences throughout his life. He was a claims representative for the Social Security Administration in the Fort Dodge, Iowa, area for many years. He left the Social Security Administration with a disability from a head injury in 1990. Ron was very dedicated and committed to quality work, taking pride in everything he did.

From 1996 through 2002, he did extensive volunteer work for The Danish Immigrant Museum in Elk Horn. He was very skilled at carpentry work and built a fleet of display cases for the museum to use for its exhibitions. He assisted his wife, curator, Barbara Lund-Jones, with exhibit installations and helped with numerous projects throughout the museum.

Ron was very spiritual and had been an active church member in the different communities where he lived. He enjoyed gardening and tending to his flowers and vegetables. He also enjoyed fishing, photography and woodworking.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Lund-Jones of Atlantic, Iowa; five children, Rod Jones of Huxley, Iowa, Robin Bintz and her husband, Forest of Lehigh, Iowa, Randy Jones and his wife, Lisa of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kirsten Loofe and her husband, Joseph of Sioux City, and Daniel Jones and his wife, Amy of Storm Lake, Iowa; a brother, Steve Jones and his wife, Sandy of Havelock; a sister, Sharon Arndt and her husband, Jim of Fort Dodge, Iowa; 16 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a grandson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brain Injury Association of America or the American Cancer Society.