Lee N. "Joe" Jones

     The journey of Lee N. “Joe” Jones Jr., age 69, ended peacefully at home on September 21, 2015. He began his journey on January 11, 1946 in the area of East Toledo known as Ironville, where he was born to Lee & Mary (Kidwell) Jones. He was a 1964 graduate of Waite H. S. and a Vietnam Veteran. He retired from Chrysler Corp.'s Toledo Machining Plant in Perrysburg, in 2001 after 33 years and he was a longtime UAW member.

     His journey took him from Toledo after H. S. graduation to Houston, Texas, where he attended South Texas Junior College. He returned to Toledo before being sent to Vietnam. Upon returning he met his wife of 45 years, Patricia A. Shirtz. They raised four children together; Rebecca S. Jones of Perrysburg, Amy L. (Michael) Moreno of Elmore, Christopher L. (Lana) Jones of Farmington, MN, and Debra L. (Christopher) Campbell of Berkey. He was the proud Grandfather of Troy M. Jones, Tiana M. Katakis, Alexandria E. Moreno, Thomas R. Pollard Jr, Tanner R. Pollard, and Jessica L. Campbell, not to mention Bubba, Toby Tucker and Duke. His Great Grandson Troy M. Jones Jr was born on his birthday in 2012.

     He graduated from Stautzenberger College with an associate degree in business. He was an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, Red Wings & yes the Lions also. In January of 1999 he was able to realize his dream of spending a week in Lakeland, Fla. and playing baseball and trivia with his beloved Detroit Tigers. He had many interests from sports to music to local history. 

     On a rainy spring day he and a few friends and cousins met out at the last true remaining piece of the Ironville neighborhood to meet about reviving the connection that so many had in their youth and they formed an Ironville Group to have reunions and bond with former residents of the area and now they share their history of a forgotten place and time with the descendants of so many who have gone before them.

     His journey has taken many twists and turns over the years, but he always remained true to his principles and beliefs. He was a firm believer in having a sense of humor and he kept that to the very end.  He had many close friends who will miss his random phone calls just to see how they were doing.

     Along with his family he is also survived by his sisters, Mrs. Grace Perry and Mrs. Susan Rucki, both of Toledo, along with many nieces and nephews, and cousins, along with his fur family at home.

     A special Thank You goes to Bill Oblinger, the "Mills Girls", and the Kunich cousins, and neighbors Trudi, Norm & Sue for making his final days so much brighter. We would also like to thank the caring staffs at the Hickman Cancer Center at Flower Hospital and Heartland Hospice of Toledo for all of the wonderful care that he received on this leg of his journey.

    Family and friends may visit the Freck Funeral Chapel, 1155 S. Wynn Rd in Oregon on Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 12-5 p.m. with the Funeral Service to begin at 5 p.m. His family requests that any donations be made to the Heartland Hospice Fund, Humane Ohio, Partners In Hope at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or any other charity of your choice.

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