Joe Venton Jenkins, 99 of Adrian, Missouri passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at Medicalodges in Butler, Missouri surrounded by his family. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the Adrian Christian Church in Adrian, Missouri.
Burial will take place at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, in Higginsville, MO at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project. Messages of condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Joe Venton Jenkins was born March 9, 1924 in Kansas City, KS to Ollie and Vibert Jenkins.
After high school he joined the United States Navy. He served in late WW2 and part of the Korean War in the Pacific. He was an aviation electrician's mate on the carrier U.S.S. Admiralty Islands.
In 1946 he married, and then went to work for Pacific Bell telephone company. In about 1951 he moved his family to a 100 year old house that sat on twenty acres in Blue Springs, MO. After that Joe went to work for Southwestern Bell telephone company and worked as a repairman, lineman, and installer.
Joe transitioned from Bell to a longtime partnership in a construction company laying underground cables. His crews went the extra mile for him, working in some very scary locations. Over mountain crests in Colorado, under any and all bridges, through poison ivy filled creek banks, they once bored under the Mississippi River in St. Louis, and across lots of empty miles of western and mid-western prairie. He was very happy on those prairies. For several years he had a pilot license.
Joe retired several years ago when his partner, Thurman Stout sold out. He farmed on 40 acres just down 18 high-way in Adrian. He built a gorgeous log cabin made from logs trucked in from Colorado, and was content there for many years.
He sold his farm about 6 or 7 years ago and bought 42' of luxury living on the road, also known as “The Bus”. He would hook up a 20' trailer behind it to haul his four-wheeler and Ford truck. Off he went every winter to Texas or Arizona. He told stories about parking in some sketchy places, but nothing scared Joe.
Four years ago a stroke ended all of his travels, and he needed full time care. He bought a motorized cart, and was able to go just about anywhere he wanted in it. Joe loved that chair. Several part time helpers cared for him, but 2 years ago he moved in with Pastor Rodney Albert and wife Lisa, in Holden, MO. Rodney and Lisa came to love Joe and they became family to him.
Time and age crept up on him in April of this year, and he needed more intensive care so he moved to Medicalodge of Butler Care Center.
Joe started slipping away on October 24. On October 25th 2023 he died peacefully in his sleep with family at his side.
Joe is survived by 6 children Cheryl True of Holden, MO, Leslie and husband Ben, of Independence, MO, Frank Jenkins and wife Linda of Lee's Summit, MO, Theron Jenkins and wife Theresa of Odessa, MO, Stacy Jenkins and wife Martha of Omaha, NE, and Joseph Jenkins, one step-son, and multiple grandchildren and great grandchildren, his sister June Ray, of Adrian, many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by Brother Lynn Jenkins. Sister Greta Preston, and parents V.A. and Ollie Jenkins.
Joe was highly regarded by people in his working life. Many many people have told his family how much they thought of him.
A plot has been reserved for him at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, MO. His ashes will be placed there soon, and there will be a burial with full military honors. Notices will be sent out to family and friends that would like to attend.
We suspect Joe is two-stepping his way through Heaven. Boots on his feet, western hat on his head.
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