Richard L. "Dick" Jones

Richard L. “Dick” Jones

Paullina, Iowa

            Services for Dick Jones, age 76, of Paullina who passed away on Friday, December 30, 2022, at Cherokee Specialty Care.  His celebration of life will be at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina with Pastor Zac Patke ~ officiating.

            Visitation with family present will be from 10 -11 A.M. on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina.

            Richard (Dick) L. Jones, age 76, of Paullina passed away Friday, December 30, at Cherokee Specialty Care Center, in Cherokee, Iowa.   

            Dick was the son of Vernon and Clara (Rohrs) Jones and was born at his parent’s rural home in Baker Township, O’Brien County. He received his education from kindergarten through eighth grade at Zion Lutheran Parochial School where he was also confirmed in the faith.  He graduated from Paullina Community High School in 1965.  After graduation, he began working at Wilson’s Packing Plant in Cherokee, before being drafted into the Army as a Communications Power Line Installer, stationed at Mannheim, Germany.  After two years of service, he was honorably discharged and returned to work at Wilson’s Packing Plant.  On December 27, 1968, he was united in marriage to Bonnie Huff of Sheldon.  The couple raised two children, Neal, and Angela, for 11 years before divorcing and going their separate ways.  Dick continued to work for Wilson’s Packing Plant, then Tyson Foods for a total of 47 years before retiring.  During his life, he enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and trapping with family and friends.  After retirement, he enjoyed the challenge of solving the hardest of Sudoku puzzles.   

            In 2021 Dick was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer.  This, in addition to various other health issues, progressively drained his strength and mobility.  In January of 2022, after a brief hospital stay, he moved in with his son and daughter-in-law in Sheldon.  After another lengthy hospital stay in November of 2022, it was determined his family could no longer provide for his needs and the decision was made to place him in hospice care at Cherokee Specialty Care Center where his health continued to diminish, and where he spent his final days.

            Left to remember him are his sister, Vickie Rausch, of Calumet; his children, Neal (Trish) Jones, and Angela Maae, both of Sheldon; grandchildren, Mallorie (Danny) Baker, Lindsey Jones, Dalton (Stephanie) Jones, Danielle (Alex) Cox, Brandi Maae, Brittany and Brooke Maae; seven great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Leroy Schmidt of Cherokee; and other relatives and friends.

            He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Dorothy, Don, Elona, Karen, Charlotte and Shelly.