Darrel "Wayne" Jenks, 86, Sturgis, passed away on Wednesday, August 10, 2011, at Sturgis Regional Hospital after a long, courageous battle with leukemia. He was surrounded by his cherished family. This man was a "gentle spirit" with a tenacious will to live. He will be missed by all.

He was born August 28, 1924, to Chester and Mary Kruckenburg Jenks in Sturgis. He lived in the Vale-Nisland area and attended grade school at Riggs Country School just 1/2 mile from home where he rode his bike to meet the school bus. Prior to graduating from Vale High School in 1942, Wayne selflessly gave his father a helping hand on the family farm.

He began his US Navy Basic Training in September 1943 at Fairview, ID, and advanced to the Navy Pier in Chicago for additional diesel training. From there he was assigned to an LST (Landing Ship Tank) in Norfolk, VA. Wayne sailed to North Africa escorted by destroyer ships. There were more than 100 ships in the convoy including battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines. Wayne was a Motor Machinist Mate working on diesel engines, generators, and assisting on electrical plants.

He served in the Mediterranean and South Pacific from 1943 until April 1946. Wayne was very proud to have served in the US Navy!

Wayne met Shirley Aileen Hillard, Buffalo, WY, in early 1948, and they were married in Nov 1948. After their marriage, the couple moved to the West Coast where he worked for Boeing for one year. They returned to Sturgis, the community he has always cherished! Wayne bought and operated several gas stations including the Mobile Gas Station that he operated for five years. His next career path led him to become a rural mail carrier for nearly 10 years. The rural residents on his mail route were very special to people to him.

Upon retirement he generously volunteered for RSVP delivering Meals on Wheels for many years. He was proud to be a member of the VFW and Kiwanis. If anyone needed a volunteer for any community organization, this man was there to offer his help. He enjoyed walking daily at the Sturgis Community Center. He walked over 3000 miles and never had to leave Sturgis!

Wayne was a dedicated member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis. He loved God and his country. His family and friends were also the genuine focus of his world. He was a caring, sincere, compassionate, humble, and personable man. He will be greatly missed by anyone who ever knew him. There is not a person on earth who can take his place. He left his footprints on our hearts.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Shirley; three daughters, Penny (Larry) Thomas, Spearfish, Mary (Raymond) Carpenter, Rapid City, and Carol Tellinghuisen, Spearfish; nine grandchildren, Kristin (Dion) Block, Spearfish, Lindsay (Heath) TerWee, Sioux City, IA, Tessa (Mark) VanDyk, Sioux Falls, SD, Heather (Aaron) Peck, Xenia, OH, Heidi (Dustin) Pullman, Wichita, KS, Jessica (Vance) Newman, Rapid City, Laura Carpenter, Wichita, KS, Zacary (Jessica) Tellinghuisen, Denver, CO, and Brooke Tellinghuisen, Spearfish; and ten great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his two special and caring nieces, Roxie (Dennis) Chowen, Sturgis, and Candy (Brian) McKay, Sturgis; and his precious Yorkie, Phoebe or as he called her, "Little Dog"

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Rozella Jenks Bracewell.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 5:00 PM, Sunday, August 14, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, Monday, August 15, 2011, at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Reverend Denzel Nonhof officiating. Interment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Lippold Hospice Suite at Sturgis Regional Hospital or the First Presbyterian Church.

Wayne's advice to all of us would be to donate blood when you can and live by the Golden Rule.

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