Thomas Warren Jones

LODI– Thomas Warren Jones, of Lodi, age 85, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. Thomas was born on Oct. 22, 1931, in Beloit, Wis., to Richard H. and Grace (Waterman) Jones.  He spent his early years growing up in the Spring Harbor area of Madison.  When he was in eighth grade, his father purchased the farm on Connor Road, near Janesville, Wis.  He attended Janesville High School.  At age 17, he joined the Wisconsin National Guard while a senior in high school.  In 1950, the Guard Unit was activated and became part of the U.S. Air Force.  He volunteered to go overseas and was attached to the 196th Fighter-Bomber Squad at Camp Stoneman, San Francisco, Calif.  He was sent to the Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, Japan where he served as an Aircraft Mechanic until his discharge in 1952.  He spent the next years running the family farm, working at Truax in the Air Guard and finally running his own construction business for the next 30 years. In 1954, he married Elizabeth Hedgecock of Janesville.  They had two sons; David of Orlando, Fla. and Douglas of McFarland, Wis.   They later divorced. In May of 1981, he married his wife, Pat Brookman Jones.  They lived in McFarland where he continued his construction business and they operated a small apple orchard.  They met while dancing at the Rustic in Oakdale, Wis. and continued to enjoy dancing, country music, snowmobiling and riding their motorcycles.  Tom also enjoyed hunting up north with the “guys” who also played cards. Tom loved his grandchildren and the times they stayed overnight.  He took them bike riding, finding and fixing bikes for all.  He took them fishing, hiking, showed them how to use a hammer and nails, and had fire-pit cookouts. Tom is survived by his wife Pat; sons, David and Douglas; step-daughters, LeeAnn Adams (Jim) and Judy Wallace; grandchildren, Dustin Jones and Austin Jones of Orlando, Fla. and Parker Jones, U.S. Navy aboard the USS Nimitz, Victoria Jones (Jeremy Wieser) of Stoughton, Mariah Jones (Jason Kingslein) of Madison, Andre Wallace of Milwaukee, Travis Wallace of Waunakee, and Alexa Adams of Tacoma, Wash; and great-granddaughter, Layton Wieser of Stoughton. He is also survived by his brothers, Robert of Janesville and George (Audrey) of Stoughton; step father-in-law, Clayton Hansen of Tomah; brothers-in-law, Larry Brookman of Kendall, and Scott Brookman (Stephanie) of Tomah; sisters-in-law, Betty (Larry) Murphy of Camp Douglas and Barb Kratche (John) of Tomah; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Jeanette Jones of Janesville; father-in-law, Corlys Brookman; and mother-in-law, Marion Brookman Hansen. Funeral Services will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 and again from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday.  The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Good Samaritan in Lodi and the Agrace HospiceCare Team.Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive       608-221-5420