4/19/2003
Funeral services for William Overton Jenkins, Sr., 81, of MelcherDallas, who died Saturday,
April 19, 2003 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, were held Wednesday, April
23, at Living Word Fellowship in Knoxville. Pastor Doug Brady, Rev. Jon Mahlstadt,
and Pastor William Jenkins, Jr. officiated at the services. Music was provided by
Amy Meyer, pianist and Andi Rankin and Robin Bench.
Interment was at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville. Casketbearers were Stan Hiemstra,
Dean Hoy, Scott Meyer, Dennis Myers, Tom Wadle, and Ron Wilson. Honorary bearers
were Henry Becker, Jim Dunham, Jerry Hendren, Larry Morten, Lennard Shepherd, and
Hugh Whitlatch.
William was born on March 5, 1922, in Marion County, the son of Frank F. Jenkins,
Sr. and Lois (Overton) Jenkins. He was raised in the Knoxville area and graduated
from Knoxville High School. He married Audrey Frances Bender on April 25, 1941.
To this union four children were born.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1940-1945. After his discharge from the service
he returned to Marion County where he farmed for the next 40 years. In 1970 he was
designated a Master Corn Grower and in 1971 he was honored as an Iowa Distinguished
Dairyman.
He was a member of Living Word Fellowship in Knoxville and had served as an elder
for 20 years. He has hosted a weekly Men's Prayer Breakfast in his home for 14 years
beginning in 1974. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-American
Dairy Cooperative. He also served for many years as a 4-H leader and as a Dairy
Superintendent at the Marion County Fair.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Audrey of Melcher-Dallas; two sons, William,
Jr. and wife Sherry of Des Moines and Raymond and wife Patricia of Melcher-Dallas;
two daughters, Patricia Jenkins of San Luis Obispo, Calif. and Susan Allen and husband
Timothy of Muskogee, Okla.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two step-greatgrandchildren;
three brothers, John of Port Orange, Ha., and Frank and Stephen both of Knoxville;
three sisters, Mary Harris of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Frances Jones and Jeanne Smith both of Knoxville; and many other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be made to the Living Word Fellowship or Pella Regional Health Center
Dialysis Unit.
Arrangements were made by Bybee & Davis Funeral Home.