Daniel "Dan" Jones

Born April 14, 1962 in Peoria to Jerry R. and Patricia Ann (Brinkley) Jones, he married Michele Kay Zaring on May 17, 1986 in Chillicothe. His love for his special lady will be remembered forever. After being married for 38 years, Mickey never had to question Dan’s love as he continued to treat her as a princess. Dan and Mickey’s love story is out of a Hallmark movie, as they were married within 8 months of meeting each other.

Surviving are his wife; his mother and father, Jerry and Pat Jones of Creve Coeur; four children, Marisa (Cory) Bollinger of East Peoria, Danielle (Kevin) Keen of Tremont, Robert “Rob” (Stephanie) Jones of Groveland, and Emily (Bryan) Thigpen of Creve Coeur; 12 grandchildren, Seth, Sarene, Griffin, Athena, Kendall, Ashton, Hayden, Quincy, Brinkley, Helen, Charles and Callen; one brother, Thomas (Debbie) Jones; one sister, Diane (Mike) Hemp of Metamora; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Richard and Esther Zaring of East Peoria and one sister-in-law, Marla Zaring of Canton. He also leaves many nieces and nephews, along with two goddaughters.

Dan flexed his skills as an owner of the Tri-County Sports Shop (formerly Screen Graphics) in Creve Coeur. During those years, Dan was the “go-to” guy for all the local schools, studios, and sport’s team’s needs. Dan didn’t know a stranger, and would find himself side-tracked by friends/customers who would stop in to chat for seemingly no reason at all. Dan would crack a beer and chat them up until closing time, before running home and switching hats to his dad routine. Dad proudly blared 70s & 80s rock music while shuffling his kids to games or practices. Dan was always seen on the sidelines or in the audience watching his kids’ dance recitals, basketball games, softball games, school plays, band concerts, soccer matches, or cheer competitions. But, no matter how much he’d prefer to be sitting in a tree stand hunting, he was always there to cheer on his kids.

Dan had a love of hunting, and would be quick to chime in details of his latest kill at Tom’s farm. Dan has always prided himself in being a provider, and that spilled over in to the kitchen with his love of cooking. Dan might have loved to cook, but he had an obsession with smokers. His wife was the lucky taste tester who benefitted from his collection of smokers that had taken over their back porch. During the summer, Dan always joined his family (& fake family) at the Lake of the Ozarks, which has been a family tradition of over 50 years. Dan enjoyed coving out and sipping “Porkchops” – all the while laughing when trying to throw the kids off the tube.

Dan was diagnosed with type I diabetes as a child, and wanted a way to help the newly diagnosed kids of today. Dan had a love of classic cars, so it made sense to combine the 2 for a fundraiser that has had a lasting impact on the community. Dan, although humble, had a loud community presence. Dan co-founded the Sweet Kids Cruise-In, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Pediatric Diabetes Resource Center. The Sweet Kids Cruise In has raised over $100,000 since it started in 2011.

For the past 11 years, Dan has worked at Costco in East Peoria, last working as the gas station supervisor on August 8th. He also had served as a volunteer firefighter for many years with the Creve Coeur Fire Department. Dan was of the Catholic faith.

His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Memorial visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. The family encourages those attending to wear a Sweet Kids t-shirt or Camouflage attire. Also, please feel free to bring a classic car to either event. Cremation has been accorded.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sweet Kids Cruise-In and Car Show, 513 Groveland, Creve Coeur, IL 61610 or to OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home, 8630 Illinois Route 91, Peoria, IL 61615.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com