Jesse Jinks' Obituary
Jesse Fenton Jinks, 71, passed away in the early hours of Sunday, September 15 at St. John’s hospital in Springfield, Illinois as a result of a sudden stroke. He was surrounded by his four sons, daughter and wife, who held his hand as he passed. It rained that morning.
Born in Decatur, Illinois, he was the only son of Evelyn and H.B. Jinks.
He graduated from Lakeview High School in 1966 and began work at Caterpillar. He was drafted into the Army soon thereafter. He served in Vietnam as a helicopter mechanic, an experience that inspired a lifelong passion for history as well as war films and literature.
After returning from Vietnam, Jesse continued work at Caterpillar—where he stayed for over 45 years. He had a daughter, Jill, in 1973.
He met his “lovely wife,” Monica in 1984. They dated, fell in love, and eventually married. Jesse bringing into this new marriage his daughter Jill, and Monica her son Jeremy, started their life as a family. They had their first son, Jarrad, late in 1988, “dad’s little tax-break.”
Monica, however, wanted a girl and so they had their second son only a year later—”just the quietest baby.” Contented but caving under moderate pressure, Jesse agreed to one last attempt at a daughter. Jacob was born in 1991. He did not survive the birth. They loved him all the same and cherished his memory, every second of every day. His brothers grew up knowing his name. They loved him, too.
Jesse happily agreed to a fourth and their last, Jordan—a boy born in 1992.
Jesse, Monica, Jill, Jeremy, Jarrad, Jesse and Jordan—along with the occasional stray realitave—lived in their three-bedroom one-bathroom house. It was the perfect family. The house grew steadily at Jesse’s adept hands, between frequent overtime hours, into the home it is today—a place of frequent poolside and bbq-nourished family gatherings. Manning the grill, Jesse would modestly remark “you can’t get a meal like this in a restaurant.” Everyone agreed.
He retired a bit early, at 62, in 2010 and spent his time at home, working around the house “harder than I ever worked at Caterpillar,” occasionally travelling down to the lake to fish. He enjoyed playing cards with Monica, collecting and shooting guns, watching war films, and allowing his two beagles Runt and Cuppy, to eat whatever the hell they wanted. He looked forward to the summers, when his kids would often find time to visit—sometimes even all at once. By all accounts, these years were the happiest of his life. His children wish those summers had lasted longer.
The final summer before Jesse passed, all four of his sons, his daughter and nearly fifty others made it to his home for the largest family party in recent memory. It made him endlessly happy to see his children together. It was the last time.
The day he died, the rain gave way to a sunny day. He would have been outside enjoying a beer and maybe even getting some work done.
There was no funeral. Instead, family and friends once again gathered at the family home for a poolside and bbq gathering. Stories were told and funny memories of an amazing man shared. All of his kids were there, but his food wasn’t. He was greatly missed but very much present.
His wife and friends will always remember him as a man who knew what he loved, who was not afraid to share his opinion, and took pride in the family legacy he had established.
Jesse watches his family grow, love their spouses and raise their kids from above—side-by-side with his father H.B. Jinks, Mother, Evelyn and his son Jacob. He is survived by his wife Monica, children Jill, Jeremy, Jarrad, Jesse, and Jordan, sisters Marsha and Kathy, two beagles, 10 grandchildren, 1 great-grandson, and countless family and friends who loved him dearly.
Should family or friends desire, contributions in Jesse’s memory can be made to an organization close to his heart—St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
What’s your fondest memory of Jesse?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jesse?
Share a story where Jesse's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jesse you’ll never forget.
How did Jesse make you smile?