John Jones
Grafton |
John Lewis Jones, 74, passed away at 9:45 p.m., Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at his home in Grafton, surrounded by the love of his family.
He was born in Saint Louis, Missouri on October 15, 1949 to the late Hubert Lewis and Betty Elizabeth (Edwards) Jones.
John attended Grafton Grade school and graduated with the Class of 1967 from Jersey Community High School and went on to attend Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.
He served our great nation honorably from 1969 to 1971 as a member of the United States Army during the Vietnam War. During his years of service Sergeant
Jones earned two bronze stars and two army commendation medals.
He married Mary Foval on October 26, 1973, in a beautiful candlelight ceremony by the fireplace at Pere Marquette Lodge in Grafton. They recently celebrated 50 years of marriage with a quaint family dinner at the same lodge. Their marriage was blessed with two children, and over the years, their lives were further enriched by eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They created countless cherished memories together as a family, with some of his favorite moments being the times when everyone gathered around the table for holiday meals, sharing laughs and stories from the past.
John was a dedicated and community-minded individual who owned and operated the Discount House in Jerseyville for 39 years before retiring in 2013. In the 1990s, Discount House achieved the distinction of being the nation's top seller of ammunition for two consecutive years, a milestone John took great pride in.
He served as a member of the Alton VFW Post #1038 and Grafton American Legion Post #648, Full Mono Masonic Lodge #341, as well as the former Moose Lodge in Jerseyville. He also served on the advisory boards of Winchester and the Illinois State Lottery, in addition to serving 5 years as a member of the Grafton City Council he served four years on the Jersey Community Unit School District #100 School Board, serving one year as President. One of his proudest moments was presenting his two children with their high school diplomas.
In his early years, John enjoyed hunting, fishing, and shooting five-stand. He hosted many fish fries and barbecues, and was always ready for a good game of pinochle. His daily routine included walking along the Great River Road from Grafton to Raging Rivers and back, and he could often be found driving through town, stopping to chat with his many wonderful friends along the way. He had a deep love for the river and the town of Grafton. John enjoyed watching his grandchildren in their various activities and was always the first fan to arrive at the Panthers' football games. Known for his quirky one-liners and often inappropriate jokes, a book titled “Everything I Need to Know About Life, I Learned from My Paw Paw” was compiled and frequently updated with his latest jokes. In recent years, John cherished monthly outings with his close friends in the "Lunch Bunch."
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jones of Grafton; his daughter and son-in-law, DeAnna “Dee” and Marty Heitzig of Jerseyville; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jay and Jamie Jones of Jerseyville, and Scott and Brenda Jones of Fosterburg. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Ryan and Owen Heitzig; Landon, Blake, and Grant Jones; Garrett (Ashley) Jones, Sydney (Chris) Walker, and Alexandra Jones; along with two great-grandchildren, Weston Walker and Lennon Grace Jones. Additionally, he is survived by his sister, Nancy Jones, and his brother, Robert (Kim) Jones, both of Jerseyville, his sister-in-law, Sherrie Jones of Copley, Ohio, as well as his brother in-law and sister in-law, Mike and Susan Foval of Jerseyville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his in-laws Jerome and Theresa “Teke” (Keller) Foval, his brother James Jones, and his brother-in-law Paul Jones.
Private Interment will take place at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Memorials may be given to the Jersey Community Unit School District #100 Foundation, in care of Crawford Funeral Home, 1308 State Highway 109, Jerseyville, IL 62052, who has been entrusted with arrangements.
Memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.crawfordfunerals.com.
Crawford Funeral Home
