Wesley Jones Obituary

Wesley Jones, 94, of Lakefield, MN; passed away on Friday, November 24, 2023, at Sanford Jackson Medical Center in Jackson, MN. Funeral services for Wes will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, December 1, 2023, at the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. The visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be held in the Spirit Lake Memory Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com Wesley Thomas Jones was born on November 19, 1929, in Lakefield Minnesota to Fred and Rosine (Wahl) Jones. Wes weighed only 3 1/2 pounds and was kept warm in a grape box on the oven door. He was allergic to milk, so he was raised on barley water. He attended Sioux Valley school and was a member of Jackson County 4-H where he enjoyed showing cattle. One of Wes's accomplishments was having the opportunity to show in the junior livestock cattle show at the Minnesota State Fair. Wesley was united in marriage to Pearl Elaine Jones on January 18, 1953, at the Methodist Church in Spirit Lake, IA. After marriage, they started their new lives on a rented farm in the southern part of Jackson County, where they farmed with horses, milked cows, raised hogs and laying hens until 1960 when they purchased their own farm in Sioux Valley Township where they continued working together, doing the same things. Wes eventually started a daily delivery of milk to the Sioux Valley Creamery where he became a shareholder, the daily delivery to the creamery also included a daily stop at the Sioux Valley Store for a pop, candy bar, and good conversation with the neighbors. Wes enjoyed a hard day's work as well as all aspects of the farm life from working cattle, planting and harvesting crops, as well as doing custom corn shelling year-round. Wes also enjoyed attending livestock auctions at sale barns. Wes and Pearl rarely missed a local parade or fair, especially the Clay County fair which always required a second day trip. The two loved attending Threshing Bees especially in Albert City, IA and in Butterfield, MN. One of Wes's favorite pastimes was going to an auction whether it be near or far. He also had a great love for International tractors, especially the Farmall H and M. In the later years, Wes along with Pearl enjoyed a daily late afternoon shopping trip to Walmart followed up with stopping for a bite to eat and engaging in conversation with the other regulars. Wes had the greatest will to live than anybody we have ever known. Wes and Pearl were blessed with seven children. Wes is survived by his wife Pearl Jones of Lakefield, MN; seven children, Deborah (Ray) Salzwedel of Windom, MN; Nancy (Bob) Bass of Jackson, MN; Bonnie (Kenny) Johnson of Lakefield, MN; Julie (Tim) Smith of Paynesville, MN; Keith (Rebecca) Jones of Lakefield, MN; June (Kevin) Kellner of Windom, MN; and Wesley Jon (Dawn) Jones of Granger, IA; 15 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and his brother-in-law Harold Bauer of Windom, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Marlyce Bauer, grandson Justin Johnson, and grandson Kyle Bass.