Donovan W. Jones, 87, of Long Prairie, passed away on May 18, 2009, at the VA Medical Center in St. C loud.  Funeral services for Donovan were held on Friday, May 22, 2009, 11 a.m., at the Peace United Church South with Pastor Gary Taylor officiating.  Interment was held at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery.

Donovan was born on June 12, 1921 in Long Prairie to Horace and Ida (Anderson) Jones.  After graduation he worked at the print shop and then headed to Washington State to work at Boeing Aircraft.  At Boeing he was assigned to a crew building B17 “Flying Fortresses.”  They were told these planes would be bullet proof.  Don entered the Army in 1942 and trained as a ball turret gunner for a B17.  Don’s 10 man crew was based in England and on their 5th mission they were shot down over Germany on October 14, 1943. Only 5 of the crew made it out of the plane and the German Army picked them up at once.  Don was interrogated and then sent to Stalag 17-B near Krems, Austria, where he was a prisoner of war until liberated by US troops in May of 1945 while on a forced march away from the prison camp.  Upon his return to the states Don vowed never to have anything to do with another German.  Then he met Adaline Schmidt, married her in 1946 and for 62 years declared it was the best decision he ever made.   Don enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing for sunnies and spending time at the North Shore.  After retiring from the post office in 1981, he enjoyed many hours in his woodworking shop.  Don finally received his Purple Heart medal in 2000 and was very proud to be a veteran.  He will be missed by his wife Adaline and daughter, Grace.  Don was a member of the Zion United Church of Christ, VFW Post 1140, and American Legion Post 12.

Don is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Bert and Howard.