George David “Dave” Jones, 80, passed away peacefully at Kadoka Nursing Home on Saturday evening, May 4, following a series of medical complications.

A long-time resident of Wall, Dave felt the call of the Badlands during a trip west from the Wisconsin of his youth. He loved the Badlands; the land, the sky, the animals and birds, and the wonderful people he came to know, often through his work at the Power House. Many found him to be the gentle and kind soul that he was.

But most of all he was a poet and had been from early in life. He had a remarkable ability to capture the essence of an emotion, a person or an occurrence in a few lines. Some of his efforts were published by poetry organizations to which he belonged or contributed, while, sadly, many went unpublished. He also labored long to create the lengthy, self-published narrative poem “The Wall: Christopher in the Badlands,” a tale having themes of religion, morality and human nature set in that familiar landscape.

Fondly remembered by his brother and sister-in-law, Edward J. Jones and Barbara Vinson Jones of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, their children, Wendy and Mark and Mark’s wife, Camille Mitchell Jones, and their sons, Jack and Will. Also fondly remembered by his brother and sister-in-law, William M. Jones and Jane Scott of Columbia, South Carolina, and their children, Tonya, Amie, Emily and Sam.

Preceded in death by his parents, Edward J. Jones and Marjorie Mason Jones of Appleton, Wisconsin

The family wishes to express its deep gratitude for, and appreciation of, the wonderful people at Kadoka Nursing Home who took such good and loving care of Dave in his final days and his earlier time as a resident. Also for the doctors and staff of the Philip Hospital who provided wonderful medical care when needed. Any and all support from the community is richly deserved.

Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Kadoka Nursing Home in Kadoka.