Gerald "Jerry" Allen Jennings

September 29, 1937 - February 9, 2024

Celebration of Life

• Note: At a later date in Clarinda, Iowa

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Long-time Clarinda, Iowa resident Gerald (Jerry) Allen Jennings passed away on February 9 in Osage, Iowa at the age of 86. To those who knew him best, Jerry was a humble and patient man, quick to smile and a trusted and loyal friend. His love of sports and the outdoors were readily apparent but not more than his love of family. Jerry was born on September 29, 1937 in Bradgate, Iowa to Lowell and Helen (Kelsey) Jennings Sr. and was one of 11 children. He graduated from Clarinda High School in 1956 where he participated and excelled in track, baseball, basketball and football. From there he went on to Clarinda’s community college, where he played basketball, and then on to Northwest Missouri State University. Later Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Japan in the late 1950s as a Morse Code Interceptor. In 1960, he married the love of his life, Carolyn Tornquist of Shenandoah. Together they enjoyed 63 wonderful years and were blessed with four children – Janine, Suzanne, Brent and Jenny, along with 17 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Jerry ran his own business, Jennings Paint and Drywall, for many years and hired several Clarinda school teachers to work the summers. He was also employed by many different companies in Clarinda over the years, including Nelson Oil, Jennings Phillips 66, Iowa Electric Light & Power, Wilson Meat Packers and the Lisle Corporation. Jerry enjoyed all sports and played baseball for the Clarinda A’s for several years as well as for the Clarinda men’s traveling basketball team. As much as participating, he and Carolyn loved watching their children and grandchildren compete and perform in any number of sports and activities on fields, in auditoriums and at gymnasiums around the country. In their retirement, Jerry and Carolyn bought an acreage outside of Clarinda where they enjoyed making it a special place for family, especially grandchildren, to come visit and enjoy fishing, swimming and riding four-wheelers and generally enjoying the experiencing the great outdoors. Left to remember Jerry are his wife, Carolyn, and his daughters Janine (Jeff) Hundley of Mandeville, Louisiana; Suzanne (Ron Liermann) Jennings of Gretna, Nebraska; and Jennifer (Travis) Sargent of Huntley, Illinois; along with son Brent (Julie) Jennings of Osage. Grandchildren (Janine) Roman Hundley, McCall Hundley, Ben Hundley; (Suzy) Samantha Hadan, Kirk Liermann, Kody Liermann, Mackenzie Burt, Kole Liermann, Mickael Liermann; (Jennifer)Taylor Jennings, Taryn Sargent, Talon Sargent, Thayer Sargent; (Brent) Brittany Promes, Brooke Clark, Brady Jennings, Brock Jennings. He is also survived by a brother, Paul (Maria) Jennings; sisters, Phyllis Hedgecock, Lynda (Merle) Mellencamp, Diane (Myron) Nothwehr and Nancy Woodard; brothers-in-law Harold Tornquist, Mark (Kathy) Tornquist, Chris (Marty) Tornquist; and by a sister-in law Mary Tornquist; along with 12 great-grandchildren and a host of extended family and dear friends, including foreign exchange students/children Anouck Maes (Belgium) and Diego Vélez (Ecuador). He was preceded in death by his parents, Tony and Helen Jennings, by sisters, Shirley (Dean) Loos, Donna Jennings, Mary Lou (Bob) Baker and Marjorie Jennings; by a brother, Bill Jennings; father and mother-in-law Harold and Maxine Tornquist; brothers-in-law Stephen Tornquist, Jim Woodard, and Jack Hedgecock; and sister-in-laws Vicki Tornquist and Robbie Jennings. A celebration of life will be held in Clarinda, IA at a later date this spring.