Marlin W Jones

Funeral Services for Reverend Marlin W. Jones will be conducted from the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Murray Jones and Chaplain DeWane Dow, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Reverend Marlin W. Jones, 80 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, October 14, 2007 at the Christian Homes in Holdrege. Marlin William Jones was born November 10, 1926 at Paullina, Iowa, the son of William and Alice (Englund) Jones. At an early age he moved with his parents to Casselton, North Dakota and then to Radisson, Wisconsin. He attended elementary school in Radisson and graduated from high school at Winter, Wisconsin in 1945. He was drafted into the United States Army in January 1945, which cut his senior year of school short at mid-year, but received his full diploma. He was stationed in Ft. Hood, Texas when his father received his diploma for him.

Marlin served in the Philippine Islands and Japan. He became a sergeant and served in the Corps of Engineers and the Military Police. He was honorably discharged in August 1946. His only brother, Norris perished with his ship when he served in the United States Army in 1946.

Marlin engaged in farming with his father in Radisson and managed a feed store for a short time following his discharge. After knowing God was calling him into full-time service for the Lord, he enrolled in Trinity College at Minneapolis, MN in January of 1949 and later transferred to Trinity College and Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated with his Bachelors Degree of Theology in 1954 and later worked towards his Master's Degree at Kearney State and Wichita State Colleges.

On August 18, 1951 he was united in marriage to Virginia Anderson at Trade River, WI and to this union four children were born: Robert, Richard, Rodney and Janelle. Robby was struck by a car and tragically killed in 1961 at the age of 9.

Marlin served as Pastor of Evangelical Free Churches in Pine City, MN, Sumner, NE, Wichita, KS, Johnston, IA, Holdrege, NE (1976 – 1983) and Longmont, CO. He was the National Executive Director of Christian Education for the Evangelical Free Church of American from 1970 – 1976, ministering and assisting churches across the United States and Canada. They resided in Apple Valley, MN during those years. He retired in 1995 following ministering for the Lord for over 40 years. Marlin and Ginny moved to Holdrege in 1995 to retire and later made their home at Chrisoma Villa in 2000.

Due to his failing health, Marlin became a resident of Christian Homes in 2001. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ginny on December 22, 2003.

Marlin served on many boards and committees. He was Chairman of the Midwest District Conference, the Rocky Mountain Conference, and was the National Chairman of the Evangelical Free Church Ministerial. While in Wichita, he was on the Wichita Youth for Christ Board of Directors, was a police chaplain through the Wichita Ministerial Association and conducted weekly Bible studies in Hutchinson, KS, which later became an established church. While pastoring in Longmont, CO, he held weekly Bible studies in Johnstown, CO and Estes Park, CO, which also became established churches. Marlin also served as chairman of the Mother Church Committee of the Midwest District while starting new churches in Kansas City, KS, Smith Center, KS and Oxford, NE.

He enjoyed golfing, fishing, reading and traveling with Ginny in their travel trailer. Marlin also enjoyed summers, taking fishing trips to Canada with his boys and other family members.

He leaves to mourn his passing his two sons: Rick Jones and his wife, Toni of Cumberland, Maryland, Rod Jones and his wife, Erin of Wheaton, IL; one daughter, Janelle Schielke and her husband, Ron of Frederick, Colorado; grandchildren: Kailey, Dylan, Camden and Riley Jones and Justin, Jared and Jay Schielke; step-grandchildren: Derek and Marcus Stephens; sisters-in-law: Shirley Zylstra of Deland, Florida and Inez Anderson of Eden Prairie, MN and a host of other relatives and friends. Besides his wife, son and brother he was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Virgil Anderson.

Rev. Jones will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and is suggested for Christian Homes.

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.