David Jenkel
Marriages
Kelli Lowry Berry - July 9, 1977
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B Obituary - March 29, 2017
David Jenkel
June 2, 1951 - March 24, 2017
Dave Jenkel, 65, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 24, 2017, in Grand Junction, CO.
He was born to Dean Ellis Jenkel and Erla Arlene (Watts)
Jenkel in Du Quoin, IL, and raised in Pinckneyville, IL. Dave was the third of six children for Dean and Erla.
He married the love of his life, Kelli Lowry Berry, on July 9, 1977, and they spent the next 40 years building a remarkable life together and raising their three children, Lucas, Earl, and Holli.
Dave was a coal miner by trade and spent his life mastering the
coal and mining business until his retirement in 2016. The coal
industry moved the family from Pinckneyville, IL to Freeburg,
IL to Newburgh, IN to Grand Junction, CO.
Dave was an avid pursuer of knowledge, reader, writer, and
artist. He often said he knew a little about a lot. If you were ever
curious about a subject, Dave was sure to have already
researched it, formed an opinion, and was ready to discuss it
with you. Upon retirement, Dave tenaciously took up collecting
and restoring fountain pens, practicing penmanship, and pencil
drawing. But his real joy was his recently purchased Harley
Davidson and riding the mountains of Colorado.
Dave’s legacy will be his intense love and care-taking of his
family. He was a kind, gentle, loving husband, committed father,
and devoted grandpa, patient and completely unselfish.
Survivors include wife, Kelli Jenkel; sons, Lucas Allan
(Chenoa) Jenkel and Earl David Jenkel; daughter, Holli Cecelia
(Shanon) Secrest; grandchildren, Oliver Miles Jenkel, Saylor
Ray Secrest, Calvin David Jenkel, and Baby Girl Secrest, all of
Grand Junction, CO; brothers and sisters, Howard (Carmen)
Jenkel of Kingsland, TX; Mary (Don) Kinstler of Marion, IL;
Donna (Ray) Hepp of Ava, IL; Larry (Doreen) Jenkel of
Benton, IL, and Steven (Kelley) Jenkel of Springvale, ME. He
was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Erla Jenkel, and his faithful fur companion, Scout.
A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, March 31, at 3:00
p.m. at Callahan-Edfast.
Memorial donations can be made to HopeWest, where Dave
spent countless hours volunteering alongside his wife, Kelli.
