Obituary of Kenneth L. Jones

Kenneth L. Jones of Castle Rock, Colorado, passed away on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 after an extended bout with pneumonia. Ken was 86. Born on April 4, 1925, in Estherville, IA, to Lawrence and Beatrice Jones, Ken was the first of 4 sons. While in high school, he played 3 years of football, but found his favorite activity to be a member of the debate club. He joined the US Navy after high school in 1943 and saw his first combat in the South Pacific. Ken was assigned to the Hayward L Edwards Destroyer just as the battle for Okinawa, Japan started. After the war, he met his future wife at the local drug store. However this love affair did not get started until a blind date was set up on Friday, July 4th, 1947. Neither Ken nor Dorothy was particularly excited about going on the date, however by Sunday July 6th; they began talking about getting married. They did on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1947. Ken graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, IA with BA degrees in Psychology and Sociology and later earned a graduate degree in Business Organization and Administration from the University of North Carolina. Ken and Dorothy proceeded to start their family in 1950 with the birth of Paula Beth, followed by Nicola (Nicki) Ann in '52 and Kristine Kay in '54. In 1955, the boys came along. First was Jeffrey Drake and in '57 Brian Kenneth, who passed away shortly after birth from complications. In 1963, Patrick James surprised his siblings who now ranged in age from 8 to 13. His career took him through 20 years as a paid executive of the Chamber of Commerce 3 Iowa towns as well as Rock Island IL. He would change industries when he was hired as the Vice President and Director of Franchise Growth Corporation in 1970. Over the next 11 years he would become the Executive Vice President and Director of the Karmelkorn Shoppes franchise, a division of Franchise Growth Corporation. By 1981, four of the children were out of the house and Ken and Dorothy moved to Colorado to open Colorado Concession Supply in Brighton, CO and a kitchen candy store, Corn Ltd, in Ft. Collins, CO. These were operated for ten and eight years respectively until Ken retired in 1991. It was in Colorado where he, the avid fisherman, easily converted from bass fishing to trout. He spent countless hours on the Poudre River with Dorothy and each of his kids when they would visit. Ken, the man who refused to camp when he lived in the Midwest, owned 4 different camping trailers over the next 17 years. He and Dorothy were active in the Elks Campers Group, where he would spend a year as President. Ken is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy of Castle Rock, CO. His daughters; Paula Jones Leman and her husband Bruce Leman of Corona, CA. Nicki Smith and her husband Randy of Midlothian, Texas and Kristine Jones of Midlothian, Texas. His sons Jeffrey and wife Cindy of Arvada, CO and Patrick and wife Kay of Sedalia, CO. Grandchildren: Jennifer Ann Jones (Leman) married to Joshua Jones of Santee, CA, and Hayden and Colin Jones of Sedalia, CO. His brothers; Bernard Jones and wife Jane of Carbondale, IL and Lawrence (Jim) Jones and his wife Marjorie of Doliver, IA. He is preceded in death by his son, Brian Kenneth Jones, June 28, 1957, his brother Charles R. Jones, October 20, 1946, his parents Lawrence L Jones, December 12, 1980, and Beatrice R. Jones, October 23, 1973. A funeral mass will be held at on Saturday, March 17, 2012, 10:00 a.m., at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2746 5th Street, in Castle Rock. Rosary will begin at 9 am. Interment will be held Monday, March 19, 2012, 10:30 a.m., at Ft. Logan National Cemetery, Staging Area "B". Military honors will be provided by the United States Navy and the All Veterans Honor Guard. Donations can be made in the name of Kenneth Jones to the St. Francis of Assisi Building Fund. Service Information