Obit: Jones, John W. (1927 - 2011)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt

Email: bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Barton, Dorn, Heppner, Hewitt, Jones, Meissner, Vreeland, Wiese

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, Clark Co., Wisconsin) Wednesday, November 16, 2011, page 11

Jones, John W. (April 19, 1927 - November 20, 2011)

John W. Jones, 84, of Turtle Lake, passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2011, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.

He was an avid deer hunter and Packer fan, so it was fitting that he died on the opening weekend of deer hunting and shortly after the Packers beat Tampa Bay.

John was born April 19, 1927, in La Crosse to Walter and Leona (Wiese) Jones. As a high school senior in 1945, he joined the Navy, receiving his diploma early so he could serve in the military as a Navy Corpsman. He was very proud to be a veteran.

John spent his summers as a boy working on this uncle's farm in Iowa and became an accomplish herdsman, earning a degree in animal husbandry at UW-Madison after WWII. He traveled across the country showing cattle and raising his own herd of polled herefords in Sugar Camp.
John believed in education and loved being a teacher. He taught in the Barron and Stevens Point School districts and was an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Colby High School. John was known for going the extra mile with helping his students, many of whom stayed in touch with him after they graduated. He owned and operated Chetek Marine for over 20 years and was a great storyteller.

John was a voracious reader and enjoyed reading westerns, history and biographies. He was a big fan of John Wayne and loved his dogs and horses, but family was the most important thing in his life. John was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, uncle and brother. He was a big influence on his family, probably more than he will ever know. John will be missed greatly.

He was married in Stevens Point on April 1, 1977, to JoAnn Barton.

He is survived by his wife and soul mate, JoAnn of Turtle Lake; one daughter, Meg Jones of Oak Creek; one stepdaughter, Sue (John) Vreeland of Burnsville, Minn; one stepson, Greg (Linda) Heppner of Chetek; four grandchildren Angela Hewitt, Katie Meissner, Luke and Candace Vreeland; one great-granddaughter, Devorah Hewitt; two brothers, Bill (Donna) Jones and Ed (Carol) Jones both of La Crosse; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 26, 2011, at Cumberland Baptist Church with Rev. Gary Dorn officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery, Turtle Lake.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Skinner Funeral Home in Cumberland and one hour prior to service on Saturday at the church. Military honors will be accorded.

Skinner Funeral Home of Cumberland is serving the family.