JENKINS, Thomas Arthur 1929-1999

SCHRUM, JENKINS, JENNISON, NARKEVITZ, CHEWNING, CHEEK, COLANGELO, VERMACE

Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/7/2010 at 19:31:40

Decorah Journal, Thursday, Sept. 23, 1999

Thomas Arthur Jenkins

Thomas Arthur Jenkins, 69, of Decorah, died suddenly Sunday Sept. 19, 1999, at Rawlins, Wyo. He had been vacationing with family members in Colorado and Wyoming.

Memorial service will be held Friday, Sept. 24, at 1:30 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Decorah, with the Rev. James Dale officiating.

The Fjelstul Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Tom was born Nov. 30, 1929, in Chariton, the son of John Arthur and Gladys Amanda (Schrum) Jenkins. He attended high schools in the Chariton and Knoxville school systems.

After high school, Tom entered the United States Air Force, where he served as a radar instructor.

After leaving the military, Tom enrolled at Iowa State University. He graduated in 1958 with a degree in civil engineering.

Tom worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation as a civil engineer until his retirement in 1992.

On Dec. 20. 1958, in Ames, Tom was joined in marriage with Jean Jennison of Riceville. To this union four children were born: John Arthur, Margaret Jean, Shirley Jo and Ruth Marie. Tom also has a daughter, Judy Lambirth Cheek, from a previous marriage.

Tom and Jean lived in Des Moines and Marshalltown before moving to Decorah in 1965.

Survivors include his sisters, Evelyn (Joe) Narkevitz of Barstow, Calif., and Colleen (Mike) Chewning of Morrison, Colo.; one brother, Jim (Marolyn) Jenkins of Eugene, Ore.; his children, Judy Cheek of Virginia Beach, Va., John and Llew Jenkins of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Margaret and John Colangelo of Northfield, Minn., Shirley and Mike Vermace of Birmingham, Ala., and Ruth Jenkins of Minneapolis, Minn; and grandchildren Jennison and John Will Jenkins, Jean, Marie and Lina Colangelo, and Charlie, Eddie and Ruth Anne Vermace, as well as many nieces, nephews and close friends.

Thomas Jenkins was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Jean, Jan. 2, 1999.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.