John A. Jones

John A. Jones

Sept. 17, 1930 - July 12, 2013

GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska -- John A. Jones, 82, of Grand Island, Nebraska, died Friday, July 12, 2013, at his home, with his family by his side.

Services will be Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Concelebrants will be the Rev. Todd K. Philipsen and Rev. Paul J. Colling. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors provided by the United Veterans Honor Guard and the U.S. Navy Honor Team. Visitation will be Monday, July 15, 2013, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.

John was born Sept. 17, 1930, in Cambridge, Nebraska. He was the son of Thomas P. and Josephine (Hougnon) Jones.

Survivors of the immediate family include his wife of 56 years, Anne Jones of Grand Island; two daughters and sons-in-law, Dr. Anne Laurette Jones Kunstman and Jim Kunstman of Overland Park, Kansas, Mary Jo and Scott Riddell of Syracuse, New York; three sons and daughters-in-law, Gary J. and Kris Jones of Gillette, Wyoming, Greg J. and Sharon Jones of Grand Island and Grant A. and Mary Jones of Lake Charles, Lousiana; one sister, Agnes Austin of Lincoln, Nebraska and one sister-in-law, Mable Jones of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Others left to cherish his memory include his grandchildren, Brandon Jones, Taylor Jones, Mitchell Jones, Brianna Rooney, Ryan Rooney, Emily Jones, Trevor Jones, Zac Jones and Walker Jones, numerous nieces and nephews.

John grew up in Cambridge, later moving to Indianola, Nebraska, where he graduated from Indianola High School in 1948. He worked as a surveyor before entering the U. S. Navy in 1950, serving until his honorable discharge in 1954. He returned to McCook, Nebraska, where he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation, on the surveying crew. He began his college education at McCook Community College.

He married Anne Rothmeyer on Aug. 26, 1956, at McCook. They moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, and John continued his schooling, on the G.I. Bill, at UNL. He graduated in 1958, with a degree in Soil Science.

They moved to Rushville and John worked for the Soil Conservation Service. In 1961, they moved to McCook, where John worked for the Bureau of Reclamation as a soil and drainage engineer, transferring to Grand Island in 1981. He worked on projects in Africa, Washington D.C. and Fargo, North Dakota, while with the bureau, before retiring in 1992.

John enjoyed traveling, having visited 27 countries, square dancing with his wife, farming and raising cattle.

He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, a life-time member of Knights of Columbus, VFW, American Legion and a past member of the Elks.

Memorials are suggested to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and brother-in-law, Rose Mary and Harlan Colling, brother, Tom Jones and brother-in-law, Frank Austin.

Online condolences and his video tribute may be viewed at under John's obituary.