John Robert Jones
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Roseberry’s Funeral home in Friendship, WI. Pastor Denny Kenepp will officiate. Interment will be at Mount Repose Cemetery in Friendship. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.
John Robert was born to Raymond William and Alice (Vater) Jones on June 14, 1934, in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He received his early education at Randolph Grade School and graduated from Randolph High School in the spring of 1952. He entered Wisconsin State College-Platteville in 1952 and graduated in 1956 with a B.S. degree in Industrial Arts. John married Joan Von Behren on July 28, 1956. He enlisted in the United States Army in August of 1956, serving 2 years of active duty, and 4 years of reserve duty. Joan joined him at Fort Hood, Texas, upon completion of her degree in the spring of 1957. Upon John’s completion of active duty with the U.S. Army in 1958, he was hired to teach industrial arts at Adams-Friendship High School. John taught for 9 years, during which he received his master’s degree in School Administration from UW-Stout. John served at A-F High School as principal from 1967 through 1971, then moved to the position of Business Manager for A-F Area School District for the next 25 years. John retired from the A-F Area School District in 1996 after serving the system for 38 years. In addition to his professional life and raising his family, John served on the Friendship Village Board for 46 years, 14 of those years as president. Other community and state organizations he served on include: the Sand County Players stage construction crew, the local American Cancer Society, American Red Cross disaster volunteer, Roche-A-Cri Bowman board of directors-30 years, Red Cross volunteer-27 years, Wisconsin Conservation Congress Adams County representative-26 years, Adams County Deer Advisory chairman-8 years, Adams-Friendship Retired Educators, A-F Education Foundation. John was a member of the Friendship Congregational Bible Church for more than 65 years serving on many committees. He enjoyed hunting and observing nature, Adams-Friendship and Wisconsin sports, and attending local events of all types.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his loving wife Joan, four brothers-in-law: Lyle (Mary), Alan, Sr. and Dale, Sr. Von Behren (Monnie), sister-in-law Shirley (Edwin) Knudson; a niece, Marissa Roofe and nephews, Rick Roofe, Michael, and Dale Von Behren, Jr.
John is survived by his brother, David (Diane) Jones, sister, Mary Jones; brother-in-law Rodney (Jackie) Von Behren; sister-in-law- Kathleen Von Behren; his daughter, Dawn (Marc) Jahnke, and three sons: John A. (Brenda), Hugh D. (Eunice), and Wynn D. Jones; Grandchildren Marissa Glenn, Kasey (Kevin) Richter, Alicia (Connor) Dawson, John R. Jones, Brandin McConochie, Karissa (Eugene) Rataczak, and great grandchildren: Karlee, Christopher and Cassie Kratz, Daniel and Abigail Glenn, Logan Richter, and Lucas Dawson. Also surviving are a host of nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as a lifetime of kind and caring neighbors and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the A-F Education Foundation, Box 204, Friendship, Wisconsin, or the Friendship Congregational Bible Church, 100 Adams Street, Friendship, Wisconsin, 53934. Please visit www.roseberrys.com for online condolences and further information.
To the Jones’ family.. I will never forget Mr Jones! When I was a freshman he was the principal at the high school. At that time, the girls had to kneel at the top of the steps if they had skirts . If the skirt didn’t touch the floor…it waa too short. Well, mine waa one that didn’t meet that rule. My Dad was the janitor then so home I went ! Little did I know 1 year later my Dad would pass away and my Mom became his secretary for 20 years! We had a few laughs over that skirt story!! As for a boss, there was no one better than him ! As a person he was always kind and friendly. I’m so sorry to hear of his passing but know he left the community of A-F much better because of him.
Our Condolences
Sorry for your loss. He was a great boss.
My sincere condolences. Your parents/grandparents were terrific people! John and Joan gave to the A-F community their entire lives. They earned the love and respect of everyone. May they rest in peace.
Lived a fullfilling life and left some wonderful children. Wynn was one of my wonderful students when I entered the AFHS teaching career. John and Joan made me keep the top notch teaching skills.
And as Tom Beversdorf was failing in health while in LaCrosse Rehab…he had options for health care. He told me he’d love to book in with John at Villa! Terri, you can’t continue caring for me.
Rest in peace John with Joan by your side. And continuing the greiving process of Tom, may Wynn feel free to reach out for warmth. Thinking of your warm heart as life that you and your siblings were given from your roots.
Love, Terri
I was so lucky to have been able to vist John on Saturdays for about the last six weekends , he hired me as a custodian when i was a freshmen in the 70s and also ,full time custodian after high school which gave me much information to other schools such as Technicial school in Eau Claire, U. W. Stout ,Joilet Jr. College,Plattsburg Community College,M,A,T,C,and U S A F all of which I attened using work experience learned at a young age to try hard ,ask questions,and do the Best you can,not the ok you can do,John gave me a chance to do the Best I Can,and now Iam 70 and never forgot Mr. John Jones ,so thankful to been able to tell him what all he done for me and I was able to tell him so.———I am the one that left the Duck in his room for him ,MY Condolences to the Family —————-
John hired me to teach English at A-F High School in 1970. I am still thankful for that.
He and Joan are part of many good memories. All you adult children have my sympathy
for your loss. Hugs from Milwaukee.
Such a great loss to the community and so many individuals in the area. He touched hundreds of students lives. Was an essential part of the fabric of our community. A family friend and we wish to extend a heart felt condolence to the family over his loss.
Thinking of you all today as you say your final “see you later”. What a wonderful long, fulfilling life he led.
John and Joan did alot for this community! They will be missed indeed!
Take Joy in a long life so very well lived! John will be sorely missed by the community he lived. Take care of each other. 💞
My sympathy to the family!
A good man indeed
I’m sorry for your loss. I loved caring for him. He was such a great person.
Honored to know Him and Joan. Wonderful people who made a difference. Have good memories of them both. Prayers for peace, and healing for the family as you carry on.
Our deepest sympathy to the Jones family for the loss of your father.
Condolences to the Jones family, sorry for your loss. John was a great and valuable asset for our community. RIP
A life fulfilled. A great asset to our community. He will be missed. My sympathy to you all.
John, Hugh, Dawn, and Wynn and families,
Our deepest sympathy for the loss of your Dad, John. No matter how long our parents live we still aren’t ready to say goodbye. May all of your cherished memories comfort you during the saddest moments.
Sincere condolences to the family.
Dear Brenda and John, our sincere condolences on John’s passing. An icon in the Adams-Friendship school district, he leaves a lasting, respected legacy. Take care.
My deepest sympathy to all of his family! He was always kind and caring!
Our sincere condolences. May God guide you through this time of sorrow. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Dawn and family,
Sending our most heartfelt condolences on the loss of your dad! A-F lost an important part of the community. We were lucky to grow up with our parents working at the schools we attended as kids. Love & Hugs!
So sorry for your loss. RIP John.
So very sorry for your loss.
Sincere sympathy to the Jones family. Cherish the memories. So many of his friends and associates will also mourn the loss of a good man.
So sorry to hear your dad passed.I will greatly miss him. Now he will be with Joan.
John will no longer suffer pain.God Bless.
My very sincere condolences to the Jones Family….His life was certainly shared by everyone that came to know him as a caring and thoughtful individual. He was a lifetime educator and mentor to quite a few “new” teachers as well as veteran teachers. He will be remembered for his Sand County Players work on the various sets for the actors to perform on. Cherish the memories.
John, Huey, and Dawn: So sorry for your loss. Will never forget all the years of your family living next door. Your Dad was my favorite teacher in high school, our industrial arts class helped with cabinets in your new house. He will be missed by everyone .
So very sorry for your loss. Take Joy in a long life, very well lived. Prayers for comfort and healing.
Our condolences to the family.
I am so sorry for you loss. I have good memories of both John and his wife Gloria.
So sorry to hear of John’s passing. It was wonderful volunteering with him. Through that we figured out Joan & I are cousins. He will be missed, but they are together again.
So sorry for your loss, Your mom and dad were staples at high school. Sending my thoughts and prayers
Two pillars of the community, John and Joan, will be missed.
So sorry to hear of John’s passing. Lots of memories from years ago. My deepest sympathy to the family.
My condolences to the Jones family. I can remember the day I met John and Joan. They were building their house next door to us and I got a little close to the hole being dug for their basement. John grabbed me to keep me from falling in and gave me a stern scolding. He was always looking out for our safety. God speed to you John you were one of the best.
To the family of John Robert Jones. What a wonderful life he was blessed with. Thinking about his family and friends and sending prayers and many hugs your way.
Condolences to John’s family, he was a great person who I truly enjoyed visiting with, I am so glad I stopped to visit with him last month. Rest in peace John, you will be missed.
My sympathy is expressed to Mr Jones family
Hold all those memories close
I really liked Mr. Jones! Sorry for you loss.
RIP MR Jones. And my sincere condolences to the family. John and Joan were both wonderful people and a big part of my life.
So sorry for your family’s loss…….
Awwww. Mr Jones was the greatest. I’m so sorry to his family on his passing. My condolences.
Sorry for your loss, he was a good man.