Stanley T. Jones, “The Gazebo Man,” 87, of Mt. Zion, IL, went home to his heavenly Father on Monday evening, surrounded by family at Decatur Memorial Hospital (August 8, 2011). Stan was born on March 26th, 1924, to William and Gertrude Jones in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
In 1945, Stan married his high-school sweetheart, Pearl E. Behling of Watertown, Wisconsin. They had two children, Thomas Jones and Pamela Jones while living in Wisconsin.
Stan enjoyed his work as a farm machinery dealer in Ixonia, Wisconsin. In 1971, he and his family moved to Mt. Zion, IL, at which time he became manager of the White Farm Equipment dealership. After he retired from Shelbyville International Case Power and Equipment, he engaged in his full-time hobby of building custom Victorian gazebos based on his own research and designs. Along with gazebos, Stan spent much of his time designing and building other interesting equipment, including a gyrocopter, which was featured in Jane’s Encyclopedia of Aircraft and was displayed at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) International Fly-In, exercise equipment, a riding lawnmower, a power washer, special gifts for family and friends, and bird feeders, which were small prototypes of his gazebo designs. Stan was also a member of EAA and he enjoyed attending many air shows in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Though Stan had many hobbies, he always kept family as his number one priority and was a great husband (66 years), father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He always made it a point to show those around him how much he loved them. His family will miss him a tremendous amount.
Stan is survived by his wife, Pearl Jones of Mt. Zion, IL, his two children, Thomas Jones and wife Mary of Davenport, IA, and Pamela Althoff and husband Jeff of Mt. Zion, IL, his grandchildren, Christopher Hoard (son of Pam) and wife Jan of Atlanta, GA; Garrett Jones and wife Kristal of Chicago, IL; Allison Jones of Decatur, IL, Mark Althoff and his wife Charlene of Herndon, VA, and Stephanie Althoff of Champaign, IL; his great grandchildren, Taylor and Austan Hoard of Cumming, GA.
Stan was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be held 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 11th, at St Paul’s, 352 West Wood St, Decatur, IL. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall prior to the funeral service. Memorials may be given to the family or to the Mt. Zion Library or the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Building Fund. Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion is assisting the family with services. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.dawson-wikoff.com.
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Latest Condolences
| Linda and Doug Kroll |
Our deepest sympathy |
August 12, 2011 |
Pam and Family,
Sorry to hear about Stan our deepest symapthy to you. What a great guy. I was just thinking of him this past week-end and found out today he had past. Go Bless
| Tom, Mary and family |
Condolence to the Jones Family |
August 11, 2011 |
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family from the Zach clan in Manitoba.
| Pam Braun Myers |
condolence |
August 11, 2011 |
Tom and Mary and family, I am so sorry for your loss.
| Barbara Current |
DMH Coffee Shop |
August 11, 2011 |
Pam and family,
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your father. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Barbara Current, DMH Coffee Shop
