John W. Jones  (HHS Band Director)
Born:        December 22, 1951
Passed:    March 30, 2015
 

ALTON - John W. Jones, 63, passed away at 10:27 p.m., on Monday, March 30, 2015, at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton.

He was born in Taylorville, Ill., on December 22, 1951, to Glenn E. and June P. (Patterson) Jones.

John married Barb VonBergen on April 6, 1974, in Alton, Ill. She survives.

His greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends. He was an avid musician and taught band for 12 years specializing in marching band. He enjoyed fishing on the lake and playing the trumpet. He was a skilled wood worker and finish carpenter and enjoyed jazz music. He enjoyed watching NASCAR, growing vegetables in his garden, good food and home cooked meals. He retired from Rafferty Construction as a site superintendent.

John is survived by mother, June P. (Patterson) Jones; his wife and two children and their spouses, Aaron and Nikki Jones of Alton and Emily and Corey Helling of Alton; three grandchildren; Andrew, Dylan Jones and Evelyn Helling. One brother, Harry and his spouse Vicki Jones of Ft0. Collins, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his father, Glenn E. Jones and his granddaughter, Margo Helling.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Friday, April 3, 2015, at the Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home in Alton where funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 4, 2015, with Chaplain Bruce Baumberger officiating.

Burial will follow at Valhalla Memorial Park in Godfrey, Ill.

Memorials may be directed to the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

Online condolences and guest book may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/144474640/john-w-jones

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Information provided by David Boyd

I bring difficult news but also uplifting news. Our band director who turned the band program around in Hillsboro, Mr. John Jones died in 2015. Attempts had been made to locate John and his wife Barb but we were not successful until just this week.

Barb is living in her hometown of Alton and we had a wonderful discussion catching up the last 40 years.

After they left Hillsboro, and I am not certain of the year but somewhere early 1980’s. John was teaching in Bethalto IL. After a couple of years there he lost the passion for teaching and started working with Barb’s family business of home construction. He did that for 17 years then moved into commercial construction. During those years he was on the road throughout the country mostly building Jimmy John locations.

We did not get the details but somewhere along that time he had a heart attack and some other health issues but kept working. Finally when he was 63 years old, he decided that given his health it was time to retire. About two months later, just after eating supper, he slumpt over in the chair – the Lord had taken him.

Barb told me that after he stopped teaching that he did a lot of work judging marching bands throughout the Midwest. He never lost that passion.

She told me the story of how he got to Hillsboro – a story that I had not heard. He was hired by the superintendent at that time, Michael Mugge. Barb related that Mr. Mugge had a background in marching music and told John that he wanted to see the music program grow and improve and that he felt John was the person to move the program along.

As a member of the band when John arrived, I remember a number of changes that needed to be made and he made them. First year we ditched some drums that our parents probably played and got a much needed entire new set. Barb commented their first weekend in Hillsboro was spent driving to Elkhart IN to pick up new drums.

John started something that had not been previously done in Hillsboro, band camp. Plus with Barb and another friend of John’s helping out, the band started to become noticeably improved.

It was the beginning that Superintendent Mugge wanted. Although I cannot recall all the details there were many championships during John’s time including the one he was most proud of, the Apple Festival in Murphysboro. That was a tough contest and I do not recall the year but sometime in the early 80’s I recall Hillsboro being the Grand Champion. I still remember the date we beat Monticello in drums. I don’t think Monticello had ever lost in anything before. That would have been around 1980.

Barb says she is in good health and if you want to contact her, please email barbjones22@yahoo.com.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thetelegraph/name/john-jones-obituary?id=23354159