Marlin L Jones

Celebration of Life for Marlin Jones will be held on Friday, October 17, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Gary Jones officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date.

Marlin Jones was born on July 30, 1921 in Hordville, Nebraska the second of three sons born to Hilmar and Bertha (Johnson) Jones. He passed away on Monday, October 13 at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.  He was 93 years of age.

Growing up on a farm near Hordville, he spent his early years working on the farm with his family. When he grew older, he learned the value of hard work while working on harvest crews throughout the Midwest during the summer months.

Following graduation from Hordville High School, he attended Grand Island Business College. He then received a Civil Service appointment to the War Department in Washington D.C.  While in Washington he met Elsie Peterson and they were married in May of 1943.  They were married for 66 years until her death in 2009.  As World War II got underway, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and received an appointment to Naval Intelligence at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm Sweden.  His responsibilities included evaluating intelligence reports from the Norwegian Underground that was resisting the German occupation in Norway and Denmark.

At the conclusion of his naval service, he began working in the insurance industry in Kearney, and soon thereafter entered into a partnership in the Franzen-Peterson-Jones Agency in Holdrege, where he continued for the next 56 years. He particularly enjoyed speaking Swedish with the many Swedes in Holdrege.

Marlin was very involved with many activities in the community. He was a founding member of the Holdrege Community Concert Association, serving on the Board for many years; was a Past-President of the Holdrege Junior Chamber of Commerce; A Board member of the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce serving on several Chamber committees; a member of Valkommen; Board member and Chair of Christian Homes, Inc. He was named the Honorable Swede at the 2014 Holdrege Swedish Days Celebration.

He was a long time member at Trinity Church where he taught Sunday School and a choir member for over 50 years; Board Chair, and served on numerous committees.

Marlin's greatest joy was spending time with his children, grandchildren and then his great-grandchildren. He could often be found playing baseball or softball with his grandchildren; reading books to two little girls sitting on his lap; and even helping make Valentine boxes for school parties.

He made it a priority to attend his grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's athletic events, concerts, and other performances. He loved opening his home to neighbors and friends for dinner and dessert gatherings.

Marlin left a legacy of a gentle sense of humor, generosity, servant-attitude, and loving kindness.

His family confidently knew that his prayers followed their every activity. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie; his parents; a brother, Leland; and great-granddaughter, Kate Crocker.

He is survived by his daughter Karen Crocker and son-in-law, Ron of Kearney; son Gary Jones and daughter-in-law Cindy of Monticello, Minnesota, daughter, Lynn Jones of Lincoln; 8 grandchildren: Joey Crocker (Kay) of Omaha, Nebraska, Amy (Matt) Auch Moedy of Lincoln, Nebraska, Holly (Craig) Baete of Lincoln, Nebraska, Nate (Cari) Crocker of Overland Park, Kansas, Rachel (Ben) Kask of Daejon South Korea, Sarah (Nate) Hoover of Denver, Colorado, Abby Jones of Houston, Texas, and Anna Jones of Kearney, Nebraska; 14 great-grandchildren: Henry, George, and Jack Crocker, Sam, Josie, and Estelle Auch Moedy, Elle, Carter, and Gracie Baete, Charlotte and Rosie Crocker, Simeon and Levi Kask, and Eleanor Hoover; one brother, Roger Eugene Jones (Alice) of Woodbury, Minnesota; several loving nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Peace to his memory.

There will be no visitation or memorial book signing.

A memorial has been established in Marlin's honor and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.