Bruce M. Jones

Bruce M. Jones

BRUCE MORGAN JONES swapped this life for the next on March 18, 2017.  

Bruce was the first child born to Clara Louise Sanford Jones and Lieutenant Robert A. Jones, Jr. in Abilene, Texas on January 23, 1943.  He was baptized and confirmed in Davenport, Iowa in the First Presbyterian Church.  As a graduate of Davenport Central High School 61 and Iowa State University 66, Jones spent his career in manufacturing production, materials and inventory control.  He earned certification in the American Production and Inventory Control Society in 1981 and  taught certification classes to others for three decades first as an adjunct at Mankato State University and then at South Central Technical College.  He was instrumental in organizing the Southern Minnesota Chapter of APICS and served as Board Member, President and Advisory member.  Among his employers or those contracting his consultant services: Bernies 66, Bendix Corporation, Duff Avenue Texaco, Eagle Signal Company, E.F. Johnson Company, Waters Instruments, LeSueur Corporation, RDM, Year-A-Round Corporation and General Equipment.  In 1993 he purchased K & H Radiator Repair and operated rental property while continuing to teach, work in manufacturing and contribute to his community.

Bruce possessed and shared many interests and skills including, but not limited to, home remodeling, woodworking, auto restoration, swap meets, tool collecting and travel.  He was active in his communities.  He held membership in DeMolay and Davenport Jaycees, the Coachmen Car Club and Epsilon Pi Tau professional fraternity.  He was a coach for the first Ames High School team entry in the national Chrysler Troubleshooting finals. He served Boards for the Waseca Historical Society, Faith United Methodist Church, Boy Scout Troop 86, Waseca Hockey Association and Southern Minnesota APICS.  He was a proud member of the Crown Victoria Association and was a participant and promoter for the Minnesota Street Rod Association (#633), entering vehicles in thirty three annual Back to the Fifties events.  He was a volunteer for the Waseca Historical Society, Waseca County Fair, Farmamerica, Waseca Area Senior Center, Maple Terrace Housing Authority, and Waseca Band Boosters.  He was the Third Avenue fix it guy and snow removal expert.  He was proud to be an AFS host dad in 1983-84 for Jukka Korpio of Finland and a sponsor home for brothers Titus and Tim Jaafaru from Nigeria when they were students at UMW. The Joneses assisted in relocating two Vietnamese families to Waseca.

Bruce married his high school best friend, Sherry Roberts on October 13, 1962.  They are parents of Douglas B. (Kristin), Gregory B. (LeAnn) and Carrie B. Jones. Bruce and Sherry have eight terrific grandchildren:  Blake, Gerritt, Nathan, Brett, Amy, Scott, Katie and Ryan.  Others who will miss Bruce most are his sister Rebecca Jones and her daughters,  brother Daves family,  Sherrys sister Connie Stegge and family and all those who called him friend, mentor or teacher.

Those preceding him to eternity include his parents, in-laws, brother David, grandson Blake and brother by choice, Jerry Stegge.  Thanks be to God for a faithful servant who was a kind, generous, cheerful man with a huge heart and also for those who brought Bruce joy during his productive life and recent illness at The Beacon in New Richland. Memorials will be directed to scholarship programs for MSRA or those seeking APICS certification with the Southern Minnesota Chapter. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at Dennis Funeral and Cremation Services in Waseca with Rev. Robert Hunter officiating.  Visitation will be held from 12:30PM until the time of the service at the funeral home.  A private interment in Ames, Iowa will follow at a later date.