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Jenk Sr., Thomas H.
Thomas H. Jenk Sr., 83, of Dyersville, died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center, Dyersville. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, where a vigil service will be held at 5 p.m. and American Legion Post 137 will conduct a service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, with burial in St. Francis Cemetery. The Rev. Richard Gaul will officiate and American Legion Post 137 will accord Military Honors.
Tom was born May 28, 1930, in Dyersville, Iowa, the son of Max and Lyodia (Frommelt) Jenk. He graduated from Xavier High School with the class of 1948, attended the University of Iowa and finished at Drake Law School. He married Beverly Lancaster on July 10, 1951, in Des Moines, Iowa. He practiced law in Dyersville beginning in 1951 with his father. Tom's practice continued until his death.
His family was his greatest love, but baseball was a close second. He played for the University of Iowa, two years for the Air Force and became captain of the Drake baseball team in 1954. His banner years were 1961-1963 with the Dyersville Whitehawks. In 1963, he was selected as one of 18 players on the Unites States Team for the Pan American Games in Brazil and was selected to serve on the U.S. Olympic Baseball Committee in 1973. He also served as an assistant coach for his son, Tom Jenk Jr., with the Beckman High School Varsity team for many years. The Jenk family has been so active with baseball over the years that the field at the Commercial Club Park has been named in their honor.
Survivors include his wife, Bev; three children, Tom Jr. (Pam) and Lisa (Jude) Milbert, both of Dyersville, and David of Mount Vernon; six grandchildren, Drew (Lisa) Jenk, Brooke (Bob Bush) Jenk, David C. Jenk and Kris Jenk, Miki (Derrick) Parsons and Cassie (Jesse) Costigan; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Jeanne Goen of Dyersville; a brother-in-law, Jim Thomas of San Antonio, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law, John Goen; and a sister-in-law, Gloria Thomas.
Memorials are preferred to Beckman High School.
We would like to extend a very special thank you to the nurses at Mercy Medical Center in Dyersville and to Hospice of Dubuque for their excellent and professional care.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.
Published Aug. 12, 2013 in The Gazette
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