Ernest Jones

A service honoring Ernie’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Trinity United Methodist Church. Entombment will follow in the Chapel of Peace Mausoleum. Military honors will be presented by V.F.W. Post No. 1856 and the United States Air Force. Visitation is from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family. Arrangements have been entrusted to Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Ernie is survived by his wife Catherine; his children, Mark (Barb) Jones, Eagle Grove; Jane (Jon) Groteluschen, Fort Dodge; and Eric (Vickie) Jones, Badger; along with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Wilma Mehmen and Dorthy Hackett.

Ernest Marvin Jones, the son of Ernest W. and Viola M. (Wald) Jones, was born April 4, 1935, in Holmes, Iowa. He graduated in 1953 from Eagle Grove High School. Ernie served in the United States Air Force from 1954 until 1958. On April 18, 1959, Ernie was united in marriage to Catherine Mehmen in the Methodist Church at Waverly. Beginning in 1958, Ernie was employed as a heavy equipment operator with Celotex, until his retirement in 1998. The family lived in Eagle Grove until 1983, when they moved to Fort Dodge, where they had since resided.

Ernie was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, AFL-CIO #6503, and was a past board member of the Celotex Credit Union. He enjoyed gardening, bowling, computers, watching NASCAR and attending racing events at Iowa Speedway in Newton, going to casinos and gambling. He and Catherine traveled extensively during retirement, visiting all 50 states, and going on cruises and tours with Northwest Iowa Tours. Ernie treasured time spent with family, especially with his children and grandchildren.