Funeral service for Charles O. Jones of Albert Lea, Minn., will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 26, 2011, at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea. Pastor Richard Spande will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before service at Bonnerup Funeral Service. Interment will be at Hillcrest Cemetery. Military honors accorded by Albert Lea Veterans’ Organizations.

Charles Owen Jones, 89, was born Dec. 15, 1921, in Pisherville, Neb. He was the son of Charles (Chas) and Hattie (Simms) Jones. He passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, at Mayo Health Systems in Albert Lea.

Charles attended school in South Dakota. He was a resident of Hollandale, Minn., before moving to Albert Lea six years ago. Charles served in the Army during World War II from 1942 to 1944. He served in the 361st Infantry Regiment of the 91st Powder River Division and was awarded the combat Infantryman Badge for actual participation against the enemy on the Fifth Army front in northern Italy. He served in Africa and Italy. He went overseas with 130 men in his company and was 1 of 5 that returned. Charles was married to Anna Yerhot in Sioux Falls, S.D. He worked as a boiler operator at Johnson Laundry in Albert Lea, farmed and worked for Reynen Brothers. He was a member of the American Legion.

He loved to fish, talk about the war and his South Dakota days. He loved being the campground cook on many hunting trips. He loved to cook for everyone and be around family and his grandkids and great-grandkids. He loved scraping iron and going to the shop to hang out, also going to all the auctions. Charles was a very hard worker.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Anna (Yerhot) Jones of Albert Lea and their children, Suzanne Larson (Greg) , Donald (Irene) Jones, Cheryl Lee (Dave) Drenth, Deborah (Tom) Throlson; grandchildren, Lisa (Tim) Murphy, Jade (Tanya) Drenth, Anna (Roger) Mittelstadt, Gina Love (Todd), D.J. Jones (Laura) , Krista Demier, Shane (Kellie) Drenth, Jaime (Brian) Schroeder, Jessica Waters (Roy); 15 great-grandchildren, Angela, Alec, Jase, Harmond, Mindy, Jaylee, Isaiah, Ranger, Lynsey, Evan, Ayden, Charlie, Devin, Kaitlyn and Cassidy.

Surviving siblings are Mary Deurmier, Darlene Dress; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Jones, Florence Wyant, Delores Oulman; brothers-in-law, Paul Dahlenburg, Robert (Red) Johnson, several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Lucille (Toots) (Jess) Deurmier, Ethel (Ralph) French, Bessie Dahlenburg, Elmer (Kelly) Jones; brothers-in-law, Elmer Deurmier and Ted Dress; sister, Evie (Sis) Johnson.