March 17 2014 10:01 AM



R. Dale Jones, 83, of Hillsboro, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2014, at the Gundersen St. Joseph's Hospital in Hillsboro.

He was born March 29, 1930. His mother died after child birth, so he was raised on his grandfather's farm near Topeka, Kan., by his grandparents, Arly and Lucy Cusic and aunts. After high school, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where he also played football.

R. Dale then operated a farm in Kansas, where he married Barbara. They had two sons, and later divorced.

He later farmed in Indiana, and became involved with a training program on the farm working with Sen. Birch Bayh and involving many Japanese trainees in farming. He also became a honorary member of the Purdue Agricultural Department.

After some time, R. Dale was farming near Marshall, Wis., and married Myrna Sue; she later preceded him in death. He was very involved with cattle buying and dairy cattle. He was one of the last surviving members involved with the origination of the World Dairy Expo in Madison. He also was a member of the Wisconsin Holstein Association and the National Dairy Shrine.

In 1998, he married Barbara Goodrich and shortly thereafter moved to Hillsboro. He became active in the community, serving as president of the Hillsboro City Council and also was president of Cesky Den for five years. He could also be found with his many friends in the morning at the local café.

He enjoyed athletics of many kinds, watching and attending many games over the years and was a supporter of the University of Wisconsin sports and also enjoyed his many friendships over those years.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara, of Hillsboro; a son, Robert Dale Jones II in Kansas; and an aunt, Mary Erickson of Antioch, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Myrna Sue; a son, Michael; and five aunts and an uncle.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 18, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, with the Rev. Conrad Prell officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hillsboro. Friends may call 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro, and also from 10 a.m. until services Tuesday at the church. For online information, go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com.
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3.17.2014