Richard "Rick" Jones
March 12, 1953 - August 22, 2019

Funeral Service for Rick will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 26, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg. Inurnment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery, Emmetsburg at a later date. The family will greet friends from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., Sunday at the funeral home.

Our beloved father, husband, friend, and brother, Rick Jones, passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a hard-fought battle with cancer. His final days were filled with what he loved most: his wife Linda; three kids, Kari, Jeff, and Brooke; laughter; and Journey played loudly.

Richard Lee Jones was born to Joseph and Alice in Eldora, Iowa, in 1953. One of five brothers, Rick grew up on a farm in Zearing where he learned the value of hard work and neighbor helping neighbor. Those humble values stayed with him throughout his life as a father, teacher, and businessman.

Rick attended NESCO community schools and was a three-sport athlete in high school, excelling in football and baseball. He played football at Marshalltown Community College before transferring to the University of Northern Iowa, graduating with a teaching degree in business education in 1976. He was a teacher and coach for the Emmetsburg School District from 1976-1981. Rick also completed banking school at the University of Colorado. His banking career began at Brenton Bank in Ayrshire in 1981, and he worked at Iowa Trust and Savings Bank until 2010. Rick also owned car washes in Emmetsburg and Pocahontas, which became a favorite hobby.

Rick met the love of his life, Linda Jo (Sandmeier) while they were both in junior high in McCallsburg, Iowa. They began officially dating in high school, he was a junior and she a senior at NESCO High School. They eventually married on August 3, 1974. Rick taught his children Kari, Jeff, and Brooke about friendship, dependability, how to shoot a layup, and how to obey curfew. If any of them were late arriving home, he was known for driving his black Chevy truck around Emmetsburg to collect his kids. He participated in many community theater productions as, through his children's roles in various high school musicals and plays, he developed a strong passion for stage performance.

Rick was passionate about his family, friends, the church, and his community. He served on the Emmetsburg Chamber of Commerce, was on the Five Island Lake Board for 25 years, and volunteered on the Main Street Community Theater Board. He volunteered with the Chamber Radio Broadcast of Emmetsburg announcing Emmetsburg High School's football games, spent countless hours volunteering at track and wrestling meets, and served as the starter at the elementary track meets for many years. Rick never hung up his coaching whistle, and coached 7th and 8th grade football, among other teams, for 30 years.

His friends and loved ones will remember Rick for his big heart, sense of humor, and generous spirit. He loved to help others, and his compassion and resilience will be greatly missed.

Rick was preceded in death by his father Joseph Leo Jones.

He is survived by his wife Linda, and his three children Kari (Michael Dulin), Jeff, and Brooke (Tom Phelps). He is also survived by his mother, Alice Marie Jones of Ames; as well as his brothers Alan (Dixie) of Forest City, Iowa; Dave (Joan) of Polk City, Iowa; Jim (Carol) of Port Washington, Wis.; and Scott (Margaret) of Ames, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to:
Mainstreet Community Theatre - 2206 19th Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536
Hospice of Palo Alto County - 3201 First Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536
or
First United Methodist Church - 801 Broadway Street, Emmetsburg, IA 50536

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