Rick Jones
January 3, 1965 — June 8, 2011
Richard Trafton Jones, son of Richard A. and Patricia (Trafton) Jones, was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on January 3, 1965. He was baptized at St. Peter�s Catholic Church and started school at Tinley Grade School all in Council Bluffs. For a short time he was called "Ricky" but he soon answered to the name Rick.
In 1971, Rick moved with his family to Harlan, Iowa, where he attended grade school at St. Michael�s Catholic School and graduated from Harlan Community High School with the class of 1983. During high school, Rick was a member of the wrestling and golf teams. Rick also worked at his father�s monument company all throughout high school. He enjoyed working with his hands, fixing things and shape carving granite. In the fall of 1983, Rick enrolled at Iowa Western Community College where he received his associates degree in auto mechanics in 1985. After graduating, Rick worked in Iowa City, Iowa for a short time at Johnson Ford, then moved to Council Bluffs where he worked at Johnnies Restaurant in South Omaha and later worked at Pefferonies Restaurant in Council Bluffs.
After a few years, Rick lost interest in auto mechanics and decided to enroll at the Monument Industries Design School in Barre, Vermont where he studied advanced monument design and graduated in 1989.
On October 26, 1991 he was united in marriage to Marybeth "Betts" Blum at St. Bernadette�s Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska. After their marriage, they made their home in Omaha, where their two children, Allyson and Bradley were born. He worked for Excel Cabinetry with some of Bett�s brothers in Omaha. Rick later commuted to Harlan, Iowa and started Midwest Monument Company with his father.
In 1997, Rick and Betts moved to Harlan, Iowa where he continued with his wife to operate Midwest Monument. They joined St. Michael�s Catholic Church where they were active members with Rick serving a term on the Parish Council. During the remodeling of St. Michael�s, Rick was instrumental in the construction of the granite baptismal fountain. In addition to St. Michael�s, Rick was a member of the Iowa Monument Builders Association and the Monument Builders of North America.
Rick�s family and friends were the most important things in his life. He was always doing favors for them. If you needed him for something, he came when he was called. He enjoyed his work, nature and especially fishing. He remodeled much of his own home, built his own double car garage and enjoyed creating monuments of beauty and distinction . He believed in the "measure five times, cut once" philosophy. Rick was recently united with his daughter, Hollie Jacobsen. Rick, Betts, Ally and Brad welcomed Hollie into their family and love her dearly.
Rick died at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska on June 8, 2011, having attained the age of forty-six years, five months and five days. Preceding Rick in death were his grandparents, Everett and Mary Jones, Dr. Harold and Bee Trafton and his father-in-law, Lyle Blum.
He is survived by his wife, Betts Jones, their children: Allyson and Bradley all of Harlan, Iowa and his daughter Hollie Jacobsen and her fianc� Jared Wedemeyer of Brayton, Iowa, his granddaughter Kassidy; his parents: Pat Jones of Harlan and Richard and his wife Christine Jones of Harlan; his brother and sisters: Deb and her husband Rowly Burton of Irwin, Iowa, Deanne and her husband Craig Kroger of Harlan, Beth and her husband Scott Andersen of Pella Iowa, Michael Jones of Harlan; step brothers Mark Tech and his wife Kathy and Randy Tech and his wife Mary all of Council Bluffs, Iowa and step sister Teresa Tech of Omaha, Nebraska; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Serving as casket bearers were Pete Sutton, Brian Christensen, Larry Miller, Gaige Petersen, Michael P. Jones, and Joey Petsche. Interment was held at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.
Memorials may be made to:
Jones Family Trust Fund
________________________________________
PDF Printable Version
In 1971, Rick moved with his family to Harlan, Iowa, where he attended grade school at St. Michael�s Catholic School and graduated from Harlan Community High School with the class of 1983. During high school, Rick was a member of the wrestling and golf teams. Rick also worked at his father�s monument company all throughout high school. He enjoyed working with his hands, fixing things and shape carving granite. In the fall of 1983, Rick enrolled at Iowa Western Community College where he received his associates degree in auto mechanics in 1985. After graduating, Rick worked in Iowa City, Iowa for a short time at Johnson Ford, then moved to Council Bluffs where he worked at Johnnies Restaurant in South Omaha and later worked at Pefferonies Restaurant in Council Bluffs.
After a few years, Rick lost interest in auto mechanics and decided to enroll at the Monument Industries Design School in Barre, Vermont where he studied advanced monument design and graduated in 1989.
On October 26, 1991 he was united in marriage to Marybeth "Betts" Blum at St. Bernadette�s Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska. After their marriage, they made their home in Omaha, where their two children, Allyson and Bradley were born. He worked for Excel Cabinetry with some of Bett�s brothers in Omaha. Rick later commuted to Harlan, Iowa and started Midwest Monument Company with his father.
In 1997, Rick and Betts moved to Harlan, Iowa where he continued with his wife to operate Midwest Monument. They joined St. Michael�s Catholic Church where they were active members with Rick serving a term on the Parish Council. During the remodeling of St. Michael�s, Rick was instrumental in the construction of the granite baptismal fountain. In addition to St. Michael�s, Rick was a member of the Iowa Monument Builders Association and the Monument Builders of North America.
Rick�s family and friends were the most important things in his life. He was always doing favors for them. If you needed him for something, he came when he was called. He enjoyed his work, nature and especially fishing. He remodeled much of his own home, built his own double car garage and enjoyed creating monuments of beauty and distinction . He believed in the "measure five times, cut once" philosophy. Rick was recently united with his daughter, Hollie Jacobsen. Rick, Betts, Ally and Brad welcomed Hollie into their family and love her dearly.
Rick died at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska on June 8, 2011, having attained the age of forty-six years, five months and five days. Preceding Rick in death were his grandparents, Everett and Mary Jones, Dr. Harold and Bee Trafton and his father-in-law, Lyle Blum.
He is survived by his wife, Betts Jones, their children: Allyson and Bradley all of Harlan, Iowa and his daughter Hollie Jacobsen and her fianc� Jared Wedemeyer of Brayton, Iowa, his granddaughter Kassidy; his parents: Pat Jones of Harlan and Richard and his wife Christine Jones of Harlan; his brother and sisters: Deb and her husband Rowly Burton of Irwin, Iowa, Deanne and her husband Craig Kroger of Harlan, Beth and her husband Scott Andersen of Pella Iowa, Michael Jones of Harlan; step brothers Mark Tech and his wife Kathy and Randy Tech and his wife Mary all of Council Bluffs, Iowa and step sister Teresa Tech of Omaha, Nebraska; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Serving as casket bearers were Pete Sutton, Brian Christensen, Larry Miller, Gaige Petersen, Michael P. Jones, and Joey Petsche. Interment was held at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.
Memorials may be made to:
Jones Family Trust Fund
________________________________________
PDF Printable Version
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