John Jones, 81, of Brookings, was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on Aug. 17, 2019, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Aug. 23, at GracePoint Wesleyan Church beginning at 11 a.m. Burial will immediately follow the service at Greenwood Cemetery in Brookings. 0A time of visitation will be held the evening prior, Thursday, August 22, 2019, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Eidsness Funeral Home.
John Paul Jones was born on Jan. 17, 1938, to Wilbur and Anna (Pulscher) Jones in Sisseton, South Dakota. After completing his education in Flandreau, John began working odd jobs around the area helping farmers until he was able to join the Marine Corps.
Enlisting in the Marines in 1956, John was stationed in Hawaii until his discharge in 1958.
Returning to South Dakota, John was encouraged by his local Pastor to join a youth group in Bushnell, South Dakota, and it was at the church youth group that he met Faye Wilaby. John and Faye were united in marriage on March 20, 1960. Residing in Brookings, John and Faye welcomed four children: Bryan, Craig, Randall, and Dawn.
Throughout his adult life, John could often be found working two full-time jobs. He was a long time maintenance worker at South Dakota State University, and took great pride in his job and enjoyed the satisfaction of providing for his family and instilling a strong work ethic in his children.
John had many loves in life, including participating in Bible studies, church activities, and church potlucks, all SDSU and Brookings High School sports activities, attending auctions, traveling, cooking, baking pies, and especially his cars. John was also an exemplary father, teaching his children the importance of family and providing a wonderful model of what a father should be.
He will be remembered as an optimist who always had good things to say and a smile for everyone. John found great happiness and wealth in the moments shared with friends, family, and particularly his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include John’s loving wife of 59 years, Faye Jones, of Brookings; children: Bryan (Earline) Jones, of Brookings, Craig (Monica) Jones, of Huron and Randall (Shannon) Jones, of Sioux Falls; grandchildren: Jeremy (Jenny) and Jordan Jones, Ashley (Ryan) Krogmann, and Taylor, Haley, Lexi and Linsey Jones; great-grandchildren: Samuel, Maxwell, Jackson, and Remington; and a sister, Marjorie Bendickson of Portland, OR.
Those preceding John in death include his daughter, Dawn; his parents Wilbur and Anna Jones; and two sisters: Sylvia Balzer and Janeane Wulf.
For online condolences, visit www.eidsnessfuneralhome.com.
