Charles Robert “Bob” Jones Sr., 85,of Nokomis, died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in his hometown of Nokomis.
A celebration of life service will be held at Stiehl-Dawson Funeral Home in Nokomis on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m. with a time of visitation beforehand from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Daniel “Boonie” Carruthers of Ramsey will be officiating. A short grave-side service will be held at Rosamond Grove Cemetery after the service followed by a luncheon at the First Baptist Church of Nokomis fellowship hall.
Mr. Jones was born in Chicago on Oct. 27, 1939, to Charlie VanMeter and Hilda (Hartman) Jones and grew up in the Windy City. However, he fell in love with the rural farms of central Illinois while working on his aunt and uncle’s farm in the summers. His family moved to Nokomis when he was a teenager where he graduated from Nokomis High School in 1957.
Mr. Jones loved to work. He started shearing sheep in his early 20’s and then started his own business, Illinois Sheepskins, Inc. of Nokomis, making beautiful items from sheepskins. The factory grew as he began expanding his production to making carnival stuffed toys sold nationwide and poms for roller skates. He established factories in Fillmore and a large-scale production facility in Vandalia. Mr. Jones owned a farm near Nokomis where he grew crops and bred and raised Standardbred racehorses. He enjoyed occasionally racing the horses himself, especially at local fairs. He loved his horses and knew each of them by name.
Mr. Jones loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He married Mary Pugsley of Oconee in 1960. They had four children, Robert Jr., Matthew, Valerie (Reebel) and Christine. They later divorced. He was then married to the late Dorothy (Skinner) Carroll and had a daughter Tina (Cook). Later in life, he married the late Beverly Krueger. After her passing, he married Loretta (McCord) Jones. The couple lived near Nokomis, enjoying the farm and raising racehorses. Mr. Jones will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He had a zest for life – working hard and playing hard. He loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and has been reunited with many loved ones in heaven. His battle with health issues in recent years showed his courage in facing life challenges with a sense of humor and faith as he trusted his Good Shepherd to carry him home.
Mr. Jones is survived by his dear wife, Loretta; as well as his children Robert Jr., Matthew Jones (Barbara), Valerie Reebel (Brian), Christine Jones, and Tina Cook (Brian); his first wife, Mary; 19 grandchildren and their spouses, Jessica (Matt) Saunders, Katie, Eric (Kristen), Adam (Daniyela), Jennifer, Emily, Jesse, and Michael Reebel, Caleb (Courtney), Abigail, Hannah, Levi, Esther, Ruthann, Reuben, Sarah and Nehemiah Jones and Aaron and Grace Cook; seven great-grandchildren; two sweet sisters, Donna Fulk (Charlie) and Shirley Bayba (Lewellyn, deceased); many nieces and nephews; he and Loretta’s two stepchildren, Richard McCord and Laurin O’Donnell; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the funeral home to assist with services. Condolences may be left online at www.stiehldawsonfh.com
