Condolences for Daniel E. “Dan” Jones

My sincere condolences to the entire Jones family on the passing of our friend, Dan Jones. It is very clear that the passion and joy the Jonesway Clydesdale draft horses brought to Dan are what truly set him apart from many other Wisconsin agricultural and dairy industry enthusiasts. It is with regret that I had lost contact with Dan who was my college roommate during my freshman year at UW-Madison (1970-71, in his junior year) in the AGR - fraternity house at 233 W Lakelawn Place, Madison, WI 53703. The Iota Chapter had recently moved over from its earlier Summit Avenue location west of Camp Randall to the Langdon Street neighborhood area with that address fronting on Lake Mendota’s southeast shore with a ‘rights of spring’ exercise in putting in the pier and then taking it out in the fall before winter set in. It was an exciting time to arrive on campus to say the least with the Sterling Hall bombing taking place on campus just a couple of weeks before that fall semester began. My first ‘sighting’ of Dan had come years earlier in my youth (early to mid 1960’s) when Floyd and Melba, Gary & Dan had attended a Homestead Club Holstein Picnic on a summer Sunday afternoon at the Heatherstone Enterprise Farm just south of Baraboo in a picturesque park-like setting along what I believe may have been Skillet Creek. I didn’t meet Dan that day though because after the potluck picnic lunch I believe he and Gary were shuttled back to the farmstead area to play tennis on the court maintained there in those years. I then met Dan for real when I was assigned as his ‘roomie’ and moved into the AGR house as an incoming freshman in the fall of 1970 with our room on the second level hall above the kitchen. He was a good roommate in helping me learn the ropes of student and frat life and was well ahead of me as already adapting into the routine of studying as necessary but was also making the most of his college experience. I do recall participating in both fraternity intramural league football and basketball with Dan that first year as he could be a bruiser in blocking or rushing the passer and was a solid rebounder on the hardwood. As I came to college only somewhat familiar with “euchre’ and never did learn to play ‘sheepshead’; it’s clear that I missed out on the many entertaining games that Dan so enjoyed after class and leading up to the evening dinner bell ringing in the frat house. Over the years I had fallen out of contact with Dan; seeing him a couple of times by making sure I checked out the horse barn Clydesdale stall exhibit area if attending the Wisconsin State Fair and if we had lucked out on our day of attendance could maybe witness halter classes or the impressive four or six horse hitch performances in the Coliseum arena that Dan also so enjoyed! In losing another Jones family patriarch, the draft horse industry has lost a legend! My deepest sympathies to all now feeling this loss! May you now rest in peace, my friend! Ken McKenzie 3917 Jay Court Stevens Point, WI 54481

Dan and I were some of the draft horse kids at WI state fair....so we have known each other forever. We were blessed to have such great families and we had decades of memories growing up with the drafts. I extend my sympathy to all of Dan's family. My father and husband had sudden events when they left this world too. Our God is in charge and Dan will be reunited with his loved ones who have gone before him. When your heart aches for comfort in the pain of loss, may you be held by the One who loves you more than you will ever know. Praying for your family with deepest sympathy.