Two well-known and respected members of the local community sadly passed away over the past week.
Flint Hills Optimist Club founding member Darrell Jones passed Wednesday at Flint Hills Care and Rehab in Emporia at the age of 83. A native of Reading, Jones attended and graduated from Emporia High School before joining the United States Airforce.
A self-employed painter and wallpaper hanger by trade, Jones is also well known for being one of the founding members of the Flint Hills Optimists as well as a member of the American Legion in Emporia. Optimist Club and American Legion member Ron Whitney says Jones was a heavily involved member especially when it came to the annual Optimist Club Easter egg hunt.
As such, Whitney tells KVOE News the club decided to change the event’s name to reflect Jones’ passion for it.
A graveside memorial service and burial were held Monday at Arvonia Cemetery, north of Lebo. Jones is survived by his wife Shirley, daughters Shanna Jones and Julie Zirfas, son James, brother Ivan, three grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Meanwhile, funeral services have been announced for local business owner Peter “PJ” de Blonk Jr who also passed away Wednesday. De Blonk was 35 at the time of his passing and was known for being the owner and operator of Mr. Goodcents and Bruffs Sports Bar and Grill.
De Blonk is survived by his wife and daughter Guadalupe and Juliana, his parents, Peter and Tammy de Blonk, three sisters Amy, Jessica and Megan, his brother Kyle and eight nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm Friday at Victory Fellowship Church with funeral services scheduled for Saturday at 10 am, also at Victory Fellowship, followed by burial at Evergreen Cemetery. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the family.
We have provided a link to the campaign HERE. Contributions can also be mailed to Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, P.O. Box 175, Emporia, Kansas 66801.
