Feldman "Fel" Frederick Jones

SIOUX CITY -- Feldman Frederick Jones, 89, of Rochester, Minn., formerly of Sioux City, died Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, in Sioux City surrounded by his family. Per his wishes, there will be no services. Private burial will be at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Feldman "Fel" "Fred" and his twin sister, Fanchon, were born Oct. 21, 1922, in Waterloo, Iowa, to Paul D. and Goldie (Brown) Jones. He attended Sioux City schools and graduated from Morningside College. He married Ruth Marie Hendrickson on June 9, 1948, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City. The had two children, Mary Ellen (Jones) Hartman and Timothy P. Jones. Feldman's life was layered with rich and varied experiences. He was honored to serve in the U.S. Air Force and completed his pilot's training just as the war ended in 1944. The skills he learned in flight training provided a lifelong foundation. In 1951, he and his father and brother, Paul D. Jones Jr., began Jones Distributing Company, distributing electronics and appliances. He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and many community organizations. Upon Ruth Marie's death in 1982, he retired from his business. In 1988, he married Marta Hofman of Rochester. They moved to Maui, where they started a business raising tropical flowers. They enjoyed many visits from their mainland friends. His love of nature and many hobbies provided "never a dull moment" for family and friends. Memories were made while fishing in Canada, blazing the blizzards and schussing the slopes. His love of cooking became apparent at age 7 when he shot a sparrow and cooked it in a cast iron fry pan. The joy of cooking earth's bounty would be a common thread throughout his life. Those who crossed his path will remember homemade onion rings cooked over the open fire at Stone Park, his garden's bounty fresh to the table or made into pies, pickles and jams, an array of meats cooked on his assortment of antique cast iron pans and walleye cocktail prepared from the day's catch. Survivors include his wife, Marta, of Rochester; his daughter, Mary Ellen (Stewart) Hartman of Sioux City; his son, Timothy (Tracy) Jones of Jefferson, S.D.; seven grandchildren, Lisa Jones of Omaha, Neb., Eric Jones of Springfield, Mo., Stephen Jones of Jefferson, Emily (Kent) Bumgarner of Carbondale, Colo., Sadie (Brett) Heaton of Sioux City, Cicily (Andy) Howell of Denver, Colo., and Andrew Hartman of San Francisco, Calif.; five great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Jean (nee Sager) Jones of Longmont, Colo., and Mary Ellen (nee Hendrickson) (John) Schulze of Shreveport, La.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Ruth Marie; his parents-in-law, Dr. Alvin and Esther Hendrickson; his parents, Paul and Goldie; his older brother, Paul; and his twin sister, Fanchon Jones Bosma.