James (Jim) Dale Jones, 77, of Johnston, IA, passed away at home on July 2nd. A Celebration of Life will be held on July 17, 2022, from 1-4pm at the Des Moines Elks Lodge #98, 5420 NE 12th Ave, Pleasant Hill, IA. A light lunch will be served.
Jim was born on March 11, 1945, in Kirksville, MO, to James Vernie and Luella (Buress) Jones. He grew up on the Buress-Jones Dairy southwest of Novinger, MO, of which he was very proud and that the farm is still in the family. Jim attended Golden Rule Country School and West Center Rural School until their closings, then Novinger R-1 schools, graduating with the high school Class of 1963. He attended the University of Missouri (Mizzou) and graduated in 1967 with a BS, Business Administration. In 1967 he married Janice Bailey and together they had two sons, James Paul and Christopher Dale. He began his career in 1968 at Bankers Life in Des Moines, IA, now Principal Financial Group, and retired after 40+ years of service.
He was a great father, coaching and helping with our baseball and soccer teams, attending scouting overnight campouts, and anything else spending time with us. In his younger years he was an avid runner, completing several marathons and other distance events. Later he took up bicycling and completed several RAGBRAI’s. He was an avid reader of all things and was a common sight at the local library wherever he lived. His greatest joy was being Papa Jim to his grandchildren, they gave him much joy and he was so proud of all of them.
Jim is survived by his sons James (Cathy Dakovich-Jones) and their daughters Mara Claire and Ella Marie Jones of Pleasant Hill and Chris (Jan) and their sons Anderson Dale and Emerson Bailey Jones of West Des Moines; sister Joyce (Ken) Lundstrom of rural Novinger, MO; nephew Steven Lundstrom and his son Ries of Alton, IL; and niece Tracy (Greg) Richelman and their son Gannon of Campbell Hill, IL; as well as numerous extended family and friends. Jim loved his family and was very proud of them.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Johnston Public Library or Life Serve Blood Center in memory of Jim.