Doris Joan (Hansen) Jones was born on February 22, 1937, on the family farm to Ralph and Evelyn Hansen near Elk Horn, Iowa. She was baptized at Elk Horn Lutheran Church, beginning a lifelong devotion to faith, family, and community.
Doris attended school in Elk Horn and proudly wore her beloved “Danes” winter hat well into adulthood. During high school, she moved into town to live with her grandmother, Marie Hansen, while working part-time at Weddum’s Hatchery and Steen’s Feeds. With her gentle heart, she once rescued over one hundred chicks from being drowned, raising them in her grandmother’s barn until she could sell them.
After graduating from Elk Horn High School in 1955, Doris attended trade school in Omaha with her cousin Shirley Andersen. When they completed their studies, the company placed them in secretarial positions in California. The cousins roomed together until Doris met the love of her life, Henry “Jon” Jones. They married in 1956 and began their life together in Inglewood, California, where their first child, Jeff, was born in 1957. They later moved to Hawthorne, California, where Kathy was born in 1958.
In 1959, Jon’s new job with the airline moved the family to Streamwood, Illinois. There they welcomed three more children—Mark, Suzanne, and Cyndi—filling their home with laughter, activity, and love. Doris became a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Streamwood. A talented seamstress, she took in sewing for friends and was later hired to do mending from home for a local dry cleaner.
Once Cyndi was old enough for school, Doris began working at a nursing home as an aide. She eventually assisted physicians during their visits with residents and later served as a supply clerk. Known for her compassion, patience, and steady presence, she was deeply valued by staff and residents alike.
In 1997, Doris and Jon returned to Elk Horn to be near her mother, Evelyn. Doris once again became an active member of Elk Horn Lutheran Church. She worked for two years as an aide at Salem Lutheran Home before surgeries forced her to retire—but once recovered, she returned to volunteer, and later again as an employee providing transportation for residents until her final retirement in 2005.
Doris spent countless hours volunteering in her churches and her community. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and gardening, and lovingly created warm hats for those in need. She was known for her beautiful flower gardens, and tending her yard brought her great joy. Doris and Jon were fortunate to travel many places together throughout their marriage.
Doris will be remembered for her generosity, her unwavering love for her family, and her lifelong dedication to helping others. She touched countless lives with her kindness, faith, and the quiet beauty she found in everyday moments.
Doris passed away on Friday, November 21, 2025, at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan having attained the age of 88 years, eight months and 30 days. In addition to her parents, Ralph and Evelyn Hansen, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jon Jones; son-in-law, Andy Allamian; grandson, Zach Hansen; sisters, Margaret Sommer and Jeannie Bruch; brother, Peter Hansen; and brother-in-law, Peter Jones.
She is survived by her children: Jeff Jones of Easley, SC, Kathy Rubio of Elk Horn, IA, Mark (Elizabeth) Jones of Genoa, IL, Suzanne Crenshaw of Doniphan, MO, and Cynthia Allamian of Whitewater, WI; grandchildren: Ronda (Chuck) Blair, Roberta Reetz, Jessica Jones, Joshua (Krystal) Ericksen, Derek Jones, Silvanus Heredia Jones, Sherri Jones, Garrett (Kristina) Allamian, Gavin Allamian, Emma Allamian, and Aidan Allamian; great grandchildren: Ryker, LJ (Elise), Kaylee, Courtney, Caleb, Chloe, Iris, Violet, Gage, Gavin, Demi, Olivia, and Jackson; great-great grandchildren: Noah and Adalynn; brother, Richard Hansen of Milan, MO; sister-in-law, Barbara Jones of Reno, NV; “adopted” daughter, Arlene Davis of Glendale Heights, IL; and many cherished cousins and lifelong friends.
Visitation with family greeting friends will be on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with a Celebration of Life to begin at 11:00 a.m., all at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the Elk Horn Cemetery.
