Ken Jennings |
| Posted 2008-11-09 by Sharon |
| The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ August 13, 2008, p. A10 Ken Jennings - Born in Fitzhugh, Ark., Oct. 8, 1934 to Helen (Smith) Jennings and Boyce Jefferson Jennings, Ken died of lung cancer at 6:50 p.m. on Flag Day, June 14 while being tenderly and lovingly cared for by his wife Emily, their son Ken J., and daughter-in-law Jackie, in the younger folks’ Idaho home. Ken was a Christian by faith, a Baptist by conviction, who led a full and joyous life and is now with our Lord Jesus. Services were held on June 23 at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in Boise under the direction of Bowman’s Funeral Home of Garden City. Ken spent his early years in Augusta, Ark., graduated high school in 1952, and joined the U.S. Air Force. Following basic training in San Antonio, Texas, he served in Strategic Air Command, Thule AFB, Greenland as Airman 2nd, serving as cargo chief aboard C-124 Globe master aircraft, during the Korean War ferrying supplies to and from Korea. An uncle’s tale of Alaska fired Ken’s desire to live there, and in the early spring of 1959 he headed to Alaska by car. On reaching the then rugged AlCan Highway, he drove through deeply snow-covered roads, ice and blizzards, arriving in Anchorage in March. He worked at a variety of jobs from 1959 through 1961, then entered the workforce of the new State of Alaska, first with the Department of Highways, later the Division of Aviation. Ken’s teenage marriage ended in divorce, but gave him two much-loved daughters. He married his wife Emily Jennings, the love of his life, in 1961. Ken built a home in Anchorage after the earthquake destroyed their trailer home on Romig Hill. Ken and Emily had a long and happy marriage lasting until his recent death. He was a great hunter and fisherman, providing an abundance of wild game and fish for the family. In 1966-67 he fished for King Crab aboard a 50-foot J-boat, the “Helen B,” between Homer and Kodiak, Alaska. Around 1969, Ken and a patern bought an airplane, and he learned to fly with the plane on floats, skis or wheels. His flying instructor said, “Ken’s just naturally born to fly.” From 1970 to Sept. 1973 Ken became airport manager for the State of Alaska at Galena, Alaska; from Sept. 1973 to 1975 he was superintendent of SE Aviation’s airports at Gustavus, Haines, and Wrangell, and all seaplane bases from Yakutat to Metlakatla, Alaska. When the state divided this vast area and split responsibility for it, he was given the dual role of manager of Wrangell’s airport and the state highway. In Wrangell, Ken with only the help from his wife, younger son and friends, built a lovely cedar home overlooking the ocean at Three Mile Zimovia Highway. He loved Alaska, and it was always home. After retirement, he sold out in Wrangell, bought and operated Maclaren River Lodge, Mile 42, Denali Highway, for seven years, making friends from the far reaches of the globe. In the 1990s, he worked four winters at EAFB, Anchorage, then thee years at Temsco Helicopter Service, and four years driving for Grayline Tours, both out of Juneau. In the latter two jobs, he met and mentored many young co-workers whose lives he enriched by his wisdom, genial nature, good humor, and, when requested, wise counsel. Many called Ken “Grandpappy” or “Grandpa” and continued to keep in touch with him through phone calls, email, visits, and special-occasion cards, which gave him great pleasure. Ken and Emily became snowbirds, traveling by RV from Alaska to Alamo Lake to fish, hunt, volunteer, and spend the winters with old and new friends who welcomed his arrival there or at Sun City West. Ken enjoyed travel, and loved making the long trip back to Alaska by RV in the spring. Ken was a kind, helpful, and mannerly gentleman with a hearty infectious laugh and a great sense of humor. Ken is survived by his beloved wife Emily of nearly 50 years; son Kenneth J. Jennings (Jackie), grandson Garrett Jennings, granddaughter Kiera Jennings of Idaho; daughters of his first marriage Cheryl Jennings Haralson (Bert) and Debra Jennings Flowers (Mike), granddaughter Lana Flowers and grandson Brent Flowers all of Arkansas; son James L. Jennings (Mary), grandsons Henry and Sam Jennings, grandson Nathan Jennings (Olivia) all of Washington; daughter Kathryn Jennings Simpkins (Jeffery) and their son Clifford Simpkins of California; stepson Robert Rossin III (Diane), their sons Robert IV, William, and daughter Leah of Wyoming; stepson William Rossin (Jennifer), their son Mike and daughters Tiffany and Wendy Archbell (Michael) of Virginia; and Ken’s only brother Jimmy Dale Jennings (Norma), niece Susal Flowers (Mike), their son Eric, nephew Jimmy Dale Jennings Jr. (Karen) all of Arkansas; many cousins and their families throughout Arkansas, a special nephew Wayne Cook (Cecelia) and their family of Oregon, and devoted fishing and hunting buddies and friends from all over Alaska, Canada, Arizona and everywhere he traveled. Ken was one very special man, well loved by all who met him, and this world is a sadder place for the absence of this good and kindly man. |
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