Enjoyed Dancing, Traveling & A Good Card Game

Robert R. Jones, 92, of Oakland, died Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at Oakland Heights in Oakland.

A memorial service was held Saturday, Aug. 27, at the Evangelical Free Church in Oakland. Military honors were provided by American Legion Post No. 46 and Ryan VFW Post. No. 5543. Interment at the Fort Calhoun Cemetery will be at a later date.

Robert Russ Jones was born June 26, 1919, in Washington County, near DeSoto, to Pete and Blanche (Wallace) Jones.

He received his elementary education in a rural school by DeSoto and, in 1937, he graduated from Fort Calhoun High School. He helped his father on the farm with his brothers and sister. They raised wheat and other crops, and hauled vegetable produce to the Old Market area in Omaha.

On Sept. 3, 1941, he married Louise Marie Burmeister at the Florence Presbyterian Church in Fort Calhoun. The couple had two sons.

On May 14, 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army; he was honorably discharged with a PFC ranking on Dec. 17, 1945. He served overseas on Tongareva, a small Pacific island, south of the Hawaiian Islands.

After he returned home from the service in 1946, Mr. and Mrs. Jones made their home on a farm south of Oakland. He enjoyed farming and feeding cattle, hogs and raising chickens. He liked John Deere machinery and anything green.

After his first wife died in September of 1970, he married Lila Briggs on Aug. 17, 1973, in Colorado. This added seven stepchildren to his life. The couple enjoyed dancing and traveling. He retired from farming in 1986, which gave him more time to get a good card game going.

He was a past member of the VFW Ryan Post No. 5543, where he served as Post Commander from 1973-1974. He was also a member of the Evangelical Free Church in Oakland.

He is survived by his wife, Lila, of Oakland; sons and daughters-in-law, Dennis and Christy and Dale and Linda, of Oakland; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Lorraine Johnson of Blair; stepchildren and spouses, Connie Guy of Omaha, Frank and Barbara Briggs of Mondamin, Iowa, George and Linda Briggs of Herman, Bill and Jeanie Briggs of Craig, Ronnie Briggs of Walthill, Kathy McBride of Omaha, and Debbie and Duane Gray of Blair; 12 step-grandchildren; numerous step-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

In addition to his first wife, Louise, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Herbert and Buss; and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Memorials are suggested to Ryan FVW Post No. 5543 of Oakland.

Pelan Funeral Services was in charge of arrangements.