Harold Richard Jones Jr. was born to Harold R. and Clara E. (Twining) Jones on Nov. 7, 1929, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His sister Betty and he grew up on the “East Side” and Harold graduated from Harding High School in 1948. In high school he played football and hockey, he was proud to be a part of teams that went to the State Hockey Tournament and a football team that won City Championships. In 1950 he married Gloria Fernlund and they were blessed with three children, Christine (‘53), Robert (‘55) and Patrice (‘59).
He was drafted into the Marine Corps in 1952 and served mostly in Japan as part of a supply division for troops in Korea. Following his discharge, he returned to St. Paul and attended Globe Business College. He worked for various corporations in their accounting or finance departments. His family lived in Woodbury and he served on the township board when Woodbury was mostly a rural farming community.
In 1969 they moved to New Richmond, Wisconsin, where he had taken a job with Doughboy Industries. He was with them through many changes and after 28 years he retired (1994) from Doboy Machines as their Tax & Financial Manager. While in New Richmond, he helped start the New Richmond Hockey Association. He spent his winter coaching hockey and flooding the ice rink, his summer fishing bass and pan fish, and his fall duck and deer hunting.
In 1986 he married Kathryn (Newman) Johnson and gained two stepchildren, Kristen and Reed. Then he learned everything about band and the indoor sport of basketball. In 1995 they moved to Frederic, Wisconsin, where Kathryn had a job teaching in Siren and Harold was going to enjoy retirement. He also found new friends, a few part-time jobs and finally at age 75 a “dream” job working at Great Northern Outdoors (a local sport shop).
In 2021 they decided to move to St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, to downsize and be somewhat closer to family. He had more time to read and study his Bible. From a young age, Harold was always involved with a church and local Bible studies. He served in many capacities, plus singing in all the choirs he could. His love of Jesus and the forgiveness he had received was so important in his life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Clara; sister, Betty Schmietendorf; daughter, Patrice Wienke; and granddaughter, Melissa Olson. He is survived by wife, Kathryn; children, Christine Thompson (Rick), Robert Jones, (son-in-law) Steve Wienke, Kristen Clemmens (Tom), and Reed Johnson (Christy); grandchildren, Josh (Kristi), Kelsey (Adam), Meghan (Vince), Michael (CJ), Jacob (Lauren), Tamarah (Derrick), and Mikayla (Blake); great-grandchildren, Olivia, Emmy, Ruby, Maverick, Aurora, Titus and Elliot.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 11 a.m., at the Alliance Church of the Valley in St. Croix Falls. Visitation will be at the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic on Thursday, April 9, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. Also, there will be a visitation for one hour prior to the service at the church.
You are invited to leave condolences, memories, and photos at rowefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the Rowe Funeral Home in Frederic, 715-327-4475.
