Eulogy speech
Given by Scott

My dad was a hero to me.  

Then again my dad was a hero to many people.  Much of his life was dedicated to civil service.  He was an army reservist and also a sheriff for a few years.  And as most of you know, he spent over 30 years as a Firefighter in San Francisco.  

A lot of people ask me if I wanted to be a fireman like my dad.  At first the idea sounded pretty cool to me (fire engine, sliding down the pole...).  But then I realized that fire is hot...real hot.  Too hot for me.  So as it turns out, I'm not going to be a hero in the same way my dad was.  He and his brothers in the firehouse risked their lives running into fires.  They spent days and nights protecting and saving people like us.  

My dad was a hero for being a fireman but he was also a hero for being my dad.  While I might not have become a firefighter, my dad instilled the ideals of his work into my everyday life.  He taught me that if someone needs help, you help them.  He would help strangers change a tire, or help them push their stalled car, or even put out a grass fire on the side of the road.  In fact, on two occasions, we had to help Dad put out grass fires when he was driving us around.  My dad was that kind of hero.  

My dad could also build or fix anything.  Granted, if we were fixing something, chances are he broke it to begin with.  I remember digging trenches in the front lawn for new sprinklers.  It was going well, until he dug the post digger right into a water main.  It was kind of like having a geyser coming out of the lawn.  I thought it was cooler than he did.  But with a few trips to the hardware store and some new PVC, it was good as new.

My dad could also build a deck and a fence like nobody else.  Chances are, some of you have helped him build a deck or a fence at some point.  Which led me to want to become a carpenter.  Turns out I wasn't really all that into building stuff but I thought, "Hey, if my dad could look that damn cool in a tool belt, then I could too."  Turns out vanity isn't that important in the carpentry business.  In the end though, he did teach me the easiest way to put something together was to simply follow the instructions.  Unfortunately though Dad.....
There aren't any instructions that help me get over loosing you.

My dad taught me many things over my life.  He taught me how to keep score of a baseball game, how to pitch inside, how to drive, how to yell at other drivers, how to ski without poles...well maybe not that...but he did teach me a lot.  I didn't get to spend every day with my dad during my childhood.  But when I was with him, I thought it was cool.  I mean my dad was a cool guy.  People liked him.  Heck, everyone liked him.  At the grocery store, he would talk to people, the clerk would talk to him.  At the gas station poeple would know him.  Any time we were in the city and he would have to go pee (and if you knew my dad you know he always had to pee), we would stop in a fire house.  It wouldn't be the one that he worked at, just whatever one was closest.  We would go in and everyone would stop to talk with my dad.  He was just a cool guy.  As I got older, 18...19...20, I drifted away from my dad.  But I got lucky later in life.  He called me one day and needed someone to go to a niner game with him.  So I went, and we had a blast.  So I asked him if he had someone to go to the next game with him.  Eventually we were going to almost every game together.  I had my dad back, but even more so, my dad was a great friend to me.

Unfortunately he got sick.
The cancer was back and it got worse.  He had to do chemotherapy; I volunteered to go with him.  A lot of people told me how hard this treatment was going to be on him, and even on me, just being there.  It was hard, but not that hard.  He did OK.  After all, we had each other.  We would go there and get him set up.  The plan was for me to work on my history essay, and he would rest.  So much for that.  I found an old trivial pursuit game at the office and just started reading questions.  It was fun.  Everyone would participate - other patients getting treatments, nurses, other support people, and I found out something else about my dad.  He was pretty smart.  He would know almost all of the answers.  The other thing we would do while we were there was make fun of each other, and occasionally the nurses.  There was one nurse who was trying to get an IV started one day, and it took her five pokes to get it.  I don't think she will ever forget us after the hard time we gave her.  Maybe next time she brags about how good she is at starting IVs, it will be AFTER she gets the thing in, not before.  Somehow in this depressing setting we found a way to make it fun.  After the treatments, we'd go to home and I would stay the night.  We would rent the dumbest movie we could find.  We found some dumb ones, and we laughed and laughed.  

Its sad that this disease took my father away from me. But it also brought us closer.  It brought our entire family closer.  On his last day, we were at the house.  He was pretty sick and not talking or responding much.  I was helping Darren and the aid turn him on his side.  And I started to lose it.  Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I held onto my dad.  Then he spoke.  "Hey, Son."  I did my best to suck it up.  I hugged him.  I brushed my fingers through his hair.  I kissed him and told him we were taking care of him.  Then he whispered the last words he would ever say to me; "Thank you, I love you."

So I wanted to say to you, dad; "Thank you, and I love you."

Eulogy for Ken 
Given by Cynthia

Hello.  Thank you for being here today to celebrate Ken.  I am Cynthia, Ken's step daughter.  I met Ken when I was 9 years old.  He wore a big cowboy hat and drove a white Dodge Challenger.  I wasn't sure about the hat or the car.  I eyed him for a while...made him sweat I am sure!  But...wouldn't you know it, he cracked a joke, made me laugh and he was in.
Before I knew it, we were living in Novato. I had two brothers that visited on the weekends and that Challenger...well it was in our garage.
Growing up with two dads in the SF Fire Department...welllll, odd for some but just the norm for me.  Ken was always respectful of the fact that he wasn't my dad yet he loved me as if he were.  I don't know that I understood this challenge for him yet as I grew older I came to appreciate him and his efforts more and more.  Along the way, the step in dad or daughter became just a filler word, like an unnecessary adjective.  We were family.  He, 50 % of my Mom & Ken parent team, my 2 of 2; me, one of the kids, and Matt & Scott, my brothers.
Growing up we always had projects.  Ken was handy.  He loved landscaping, building decks, you name it, he could do it.  Therefore, so did we!  Home Depot has how to clinics, we had Ken.  From digging sprinkler trenches to hammering nails into fences to staining decks, mowing lawns, planting trees...we know how to do it!  He continued to be the how to resource for us time and time again.
He also has been the keeper of many a tasty recipe.  He had a great appreciation for good food and like my husband would say "Ken CAN cook!"
Some of the best memories of Ken in recent years are from trips we took with my parents to Puerta Vallarta.  He loved it there and it loved him! The first time we met them there Ken rented a car.  Now, they had already been gong there for years but I don't think I expected them to be as comfortable as they were. They tell us we're going to this great restaurant in town and we're going to drive.  Fine.  Before we know it, we are zipping  through the back streets of PV to some little local hole in the wall where clearly, tourists were not regulars.  The locals stared as we drove past them.  Ken, he was just as comfortable as the locals.  He drove there just like here, always a short cut, always a unique route.
His favorite place there was under a palapa with a good book in one hand and a Tecate Light in another.  He and my mom returned to PV in February and how happy he was to return to the place he loved so much. I will forever picture him there under a palapa resting peacefully.  Raise that imaginary Tecate Light with me and toast to my step dad, my 2 of 2, my friend-Here's to KJ!

A Farewell to Ken

Ken was more than a Fireman
     and a fabulous cook

More than Nancy's loving husband

More than a creative builder
and there was nothing he could not mend)

We were all so blessed to have him as our friend

And those hands that worked so hard
did not deserve to be bruised in the end.

To me he was a hero in many ways~
   Those precious hands:
Held Nancy, his wife for life
Put out fires
 Saved lives
   even gave me away on my wedding day.

Although he will be deeply missed, he'll be in our hearts where fond memories will forever remain~

Though it's our loss, it is heaven's gain

    A farewell to Ken, my friend, until we meet again...

                                  Written by Debbie Weiler
August 2010                           (Sentiments shared by my husband, Stephan)

I would like to thank all of your for coming.  I know that all of you touched my dad's life and impacted him in some way and that is the reason why you're here.  I'm hoping that he did the same for you.  Whether it was through his helpful nature or through his quick-witted humor and laughter that he brought to so many people.

I would especially like to thank his fellow firefighters who have made it today.  The fire department was an enormous part of his life.  He loved his time in the department and his fellow firefighters.  He talked with me about it all of the time!  His great joy, I believe, was his preparation of meals.  My dad LOVED to cook and took great pride in making meals for you all of the time.  And, from what I've heard, you all enjoyed them as well.  I must be a chip off the old block because I became an executive chef and share the same passion for cooking as he did.  We would often share techniques - although his was was always the right way!  I think I'll be making some of his favorite dishes as specials in the next few weeks in his honor.  When my dad retired, he even wanted to try to organize a class that would help prepare the younger guys coming into the department for how to prepare a good meal that everyone could enjoy.  But, unfortunately that never worked out.

The things that I will remember about my dad were his love for the 49ers, and especially for the two of us - our love for baseball and the Giants!  That was my baseball buddy.  We would talk baseball all of the time.  I'm going to miss our phone conversations that took place so frequently.  I would call my dad on my way home from work everyday.  I'm going to miss our golf outings and our family trips to the Russian river house.  I will always remember the good times that we had, especially our trip to Disneyland.  My brother and I were in our twenties and had a blast with my dad - we were all acting like little kids again, just the three boys running around the happiest place on earth!  These are the times that I will remember.

I will also remember my dad as a fighter.  As a firefighter and a cancer fighter!  He NEVER gave up his fight with cancer.  Everytime I talked to him or visited him he was convinced that he was going to beat this cancer.  As a matter of fact, I had talked with him just over a week ago on the phone and he said to me that he'd be better in a few days.  Even up to the very end he put up a fight.  Well dad, you're at peace now and we will always love you and always remember you!  Dad - I LOVE YOU and Go Giants!

Matthew Jones - Funeral Service Speech

Ken and I entered the SFFD together on 4/7/75 and I have fond memories or our SFFD proby times as well as our SFFD careers.  Ken and I had a long chat at Keaton's when Dan Barden passed away, and I was thinking of that at his memorial at Holy Cross last Saturday.  And, I noticed something else about his boys-they have his dad's hair!

God's speed Ken and good luck to your family,
Jim Connors
SFFD

To the family of Ken Jones, my condolences. He was a kind and all around great man. My thougths and prayers are with you all.
                                                          Peace & Blessings
                                                                 Joseph M. Guttmann
Bayfield, Colorado

Dea Nancy and family,

My deepest sorrow in hearing of Ken's passing.  He endured quite a lot and handled everything with great dignity.  May God embrace him with his love.  Please know that all of you are in my prayers.

Donna Shepherd, Debra and Gerrad

Ken introduced us to Bruce Springsteen's music -I  remember hearing that at Cindi's house in high school. He drove us to Homecoming and used to make us laugh. I know how much Cindi and Darren have enjoyed their relationship with Ken and I am sorry it has ended.  Mrs. Jones I am very sorry for your loss.

I was saddened to hear of the passing of kenny.  I worked with him  at station 48 and fireboat1. he always had a great outlook on life and always there to help anyone who needed it. I will miss his sense of humor and engaging smile...gods speed my friend..

My condolences to Ken's family. I recently ran into Ken at Harvest Market and talked old times in the firehouse. He had a great outlook on life and will be missed.

So sorry to hear about Kenny. My brother Tony and I grew up with Kenny as kids at the Mission Boys Club. In later years we lost touch, and while he became a Sheriff and firefighter, we went on to the SFPD. When we would enquire how he was doing, we would always hear praise. We wish we could have run into him at Russian River,as we spend alot of time there ourselves. We know Kennys in a good place, and he'll be in our prayers. Eddie and Tony Rodriguez

Dear Nancy, Scott, Matt, Cynthia and extended family members,
I will miss Ken very much and look ahead to the times we will share stories continuing to celebrate his life.
The strength he showed all of you these many many months while ill may give you strength now to hold each other up.
In sympathy and friendship, Ellie

It was my pleasure to have worked with Ken over the years.  He always brought some fun  where ever he went with his great sense of humor and wonderful outlook on life.  He was always there to help someone when ever it was needed.  He always baked a great apple pie when he got detailed to a firehouse where I was.  What a great guy and a huge loss to the many who knew him.  He will be missed.  Thanks to the family for sharing Ken with all of us.   Roger Wilhelm,  retired SFFD

We are so sorry for your loss. The donation to the SFPD Toy Drive is such a thoughtful gesture at this time, it is our honor to contribute to this wonderful organization in Ken's name.   Susan Gee and Jeffrey Pugh, Walnut Creek, CA

Ken and I joined the SFFD on the same day "Class of 54".  We worked along side each other for many years at Fire Station 48 "The Island".  I grew to know him, as well as most other firefighters to be a fair, just and respected, with a great sence of humor even in difficult times.. My condolences to the entire family , he was as good man.
Mark S Donnelly

I worked with Kenny for years and he was always a class act. I will miss his smile and all the laughs we had.God speed friend. Steve Coffey,Station 8,SFFD

Scott-Thank you for sharing your Dad's story so I could learn more about him. It sounds like you were blessed with his sense of humor! May you all have strength to support each other during this time and keep the memories close to your heart. Please know that your family is being thought of and you have friends here to help you if you need anything.

It is my honor to contribute to the memorial of a firefighter.  My greatest condolences to the entire family.

Jennifer Sullivan (friend of Scott)

OBITUARY

Kenneth R. Jones

2 January, 1947 – 22 August, 2010

Keaton’s Redwood Chapel of Marin

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