Kevin C. Jones

Kevin “K.C.” Jones, age 78, of Grand Rapids, Minnesota passed away July 4, 2023 at his beloved home on the Prairie River. 

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave.  Burial will follow in Johnson County Memorial Gardens.  

Kevin Craig Jones was born April 3, 1945 to C.A. “Chuck” and Virginia Ott Jones in Leawood, Kansas, the youngest of four boys. He attended Shawnee Mission East High School in Overland Park, Kansas and graduated from Judson Boarding School in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1963. Kevin graduated from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1969. As a graduation present, his father gave him a one-way ticket to Australia. He traveled for 18 months around Australia with a variety of occupations. This included working for ABC Australia, Connellan Airways, and Western Australia Trustee. Thus began Kevin’s traveling adventure which eventually led him to Kathmandu, Nepal where he met his future wife, Juliet, of Sydney, Australia.

After traveling through India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Southern Europe, and Great Britain, Kevin and Juliet married on April 1, 1972 in his childhood home in Leawood, Kansas. Kevin took a position as a trainee in retail at a Kresge store in Salina, KS. He then transitioned to the Kmart corporation working his way up the ladder to store manager. After many stops throughout the Midwest, he transferred to Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1990, working as store manager at Kmart until he retired in 2003.

Kevin loved his “toys” whether a motorcycle, boat, sports car, snowmobile, or travel trailer. He loved traveling and meeting new people while on his travels. He traveled to all fifty states and every continent except Antarctica! Most recently, to celebrate K.C. and Juliet’s 50th wedding anniversary, they cruised around the Caribbean on a luxury yacht to Barbados, St Lucia, Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba. K.C. also loved his Kansas City Chiefs and was an avid fan his entire life. He was thrilled to see them win the Super Bowl twice in the last four years!

Throughout his life, K.C. was a member of the Masonic Fraternity as a Mason and Shriner (50+years). He was on the Salvation Army Board and gave his time and energy in organizing food delivery to those in need. He was very involved in helping those with mental and physical disabilities through community outreach programs, including employment at Kmart. In Grand Rapids, Minnesota, he was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce (Board of Directors), Centennial Rotary Club (Board of Directors, President, Treasurer), United Way (Pacesetter), and Community Presbyterian Church (member/usher). In addition, every year he looked forward to the “Angel Program” at Kmart which he started, in coordination with the Grand Rapids Police Department, to enable children of limited means to select gifts for their families.

Kevin also loved his family.

Preceded in death by his parents C.A. “Chuck” and Virginia (Ott) Jones; brothers Charles A. Jones, Jr., Roger Jones, and Gary Jones. Kevin is survived by his wife Juliet Jones; daughters Karen C. Jones Padidar and Kristine C. Matthias (Greg). He is also survived by his granddaughters Ariani Padidar, Malia and Kira Matthias.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Kevin may be directed to Shriners Burn Hospitals (lovetotherescue.org).