Douglas Lee Jones

DOUGLAS LEE JONES, age 78 of Waseca, died at his home on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.

Doug was born in Sleepy Eye on June 6, 1948, to parents Lloyd Levi and Esther Maria (Gray) Jones. He graduated from high school in Sleepy Eye and later continued vocational-technical school where he was trained in the printing industry. Doug enlisted to serve his country in the Army National Guard in 1967 where he was trained as a 50-caliber gunner in the infantry division and was honorably discharged in 1973. During his service he continued to work in printing. In 1968, Doug was married to Sharon Augustin and they had two children together, Jason and Andrea. They later divorced and on March 27, 1981, he was married to Lela (Hansen) Miller in Mantorville, at which time her two children, Jon and Jeremiah, came to be a part of his new family.

Doug worked at The House of Print in Madelia before spending several years teaching his craft to students at the Viking Vocational School in Hanska. Later, he returned to Waseca where he owned and operated The Printery. Finally, Doug worked in sales for Corporate Graphics until his retirement in 2018. He and his friend Bill Hintz also owned and operated their own auctioneering business for many years.

He will be remembered by family and friends for his friendly, outgoing manner and the joy he brought to those he interacted with every day. He is well-known for his love of travel and transportation, from cars and motorcycles to draft horses. Counting and recounting the number of cars he had throughout his life could take many hours, and even with draft horses he was notorious for “changing colors” on a regular basis. He enjoyed spending time wandering through car shows or swap meets with friends and family and reminiscing about the models he either had or wanted.

Doug and Lela enjoyed traveling and visited both coasts by motorcycle. They also took many trips with friends to Florida and around the state, especially the Winona area.

He’ll especially be remembered for his pride in and love for his blended family, tender and tough love both. He said that it’s no coincidence that his draft-horse period (rather than fast cars) corresponded with the era when the boys were in their teen years. He was involved with the Sleigh and Cutter Festival during this time.

It was truly a blessing to him to have all the kids remaining in the local community after they grew up, to keep maturing those family bonds. He also relished being a grandpa and great-grandpa, with Doug and Lela a stalwart presence at the children’s sporting, band, dance or other events, and they delighted in family members’ every visit, no matter if it was a special holiday or a random Tuesday.

Doug and Lela have a group of friends that have gotten together every Wednesday for over 40 years. The “Wednesday Extension Group” will miss him greatly. Among other involvement, he was a longtime member of Faith United Methodist Church in Waseca, the Waseca American Legion and the Minnesota Draft Horse Association. He was also a founding board member of the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MAC-V), and his efforts were instrumental in battling homelessness and housing issues for veterans across Minnesota.

Doug is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Lela Jones of Waseca; four children, Jason (Cathy) Jones, Andrea (Roy) Peterson, Jon (Amy) Miller, and Jeremiah (Jaala) Miller, all of Waseca; eight grandchildren, Maurela (Collin) Palmer, Bailey Miller, Preston (Chloë) Miller, Coy Miller, Lily Peterson, Macy Peterson, Belle Miller, and Libby Miller; two great-grandchildren, Caeston and Celeste Palmer; one brother, Randy Jones (special friend Gracey Taylor) of New Mexico; and three sisters-in-law, Ruby (Noel) Petersen of Omaha, Neb., Judy Valberg of Redding, Calif., and Janet Woodford of St. Helen, Mich. He was preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Jack Jones and Janice (Dale) Pietig.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Faith United Methodist Church in Waseca, with Rev. Elden Eklund officiating. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. and will continue until the time of the service at the church. Interment will follow at Woodville Cemetery in Waseca with lunch afterward. Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation Services in Waseca is handling the arrangements. 

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