Lawrence W. Jennings

July 28, 1935--Feb. 8, 2011

JENNINGS, Kansas -- Lawrence William Jennings, 75, died Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2011), at his residence near Jennings.

He was born July 28, 1935, south of Jennings, in the Allison area, to William Lawrence and Mamie Helen (Fiala) Jennings.

He attended country schools at Solomon Valley and Custer before entering Oberlin Grade School. He graduated from Decatur County High School in 1953 and then continued his education at Kansas State College in Manhattan, taking agricultural classes.

He joined the U.S. Air Force in January 1955 and became an aircraft mechanic, serving at bases in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Newfoundland, as well as in the states, to repair aircraft.

When he returned to Kansas, he began farming with his family. He also worked in Kansas and Colorado with a seismography company for a year and continued his education at McCook Community College.

He married Judy Mangold on August 14, 1960, and they farmed northwest of Jennings and Dresden, Kansas. Four children were born to their union.

On July 26, 1987, he married Lila Lee Harris in Jennings. They made their home on the Harris farm of her parents northeast of Jennings.

He was a member of the Jennings American Legion Post No. 351, Oberlin American Legion Post No. 70, St. John's Lutheran Church in Oberlin, Jennings Czech Museum Board, Decatur County Conservation Board, Jennings Lions Club, Pleasant Valley Township Board, and Center Township Board. He also served as a Jennings Ambulance driver and first responder.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Nelson Johnson; niece, Edna Stoney; and two brothers-in-law, Ed Stoney and Leroy Harris.

He is survived by his wife Lila, of the home; four children, Brian Jennings of Solomon, Kansas, Tammy and husband, Dale Musgrave of Ong, Nebraska, Brent and Rhonda Jennings of Topeka, Kansas, and Brett Jennings of Oberlin, Kansas; four stepdaughters, Marcia Casey and husband, Milt Sherwin, and Marlene Hounshell, all of Denver, Colorado, Vicki and Steve Cook of Fort Morgan, Colorado, and Shelley and husband, Robert Whitefield of Trout Lake, Washington; three siblings, James and wife, Delores Jennings of Oberlin, Betty and husband, Clair Carlton of Keno, Oregon, and Nadean Stoney of Oberlin; 16 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services are Saturday, 2 p.m., at the United Methodist Church in Jennings with the Rev. Barbara Patterson officiating. Burial is in the Jennings Cemetery.

Visitation is Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin and Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time at the church in Jennings. A time of sharing is Friday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home in Oberlin.

Memorials may be made to Jennings Czech Museum, Jennings American Legion Post No. 351, or St. John's Lutheran Church in Oberlin.

Pauls Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.