Roy Jerome Jenks

Roy Jerome Jenks, 86, of Sun City West, AZ (formerly of Bloomington and Roseville, MN) passed away peacefully and surrounded by family at his residence on Wednesday, 7/13/22. He was born on 8/17/35, in Minneapolis, MN and graduated from Washburn HS and the University of Minnesota. He retired as a LT. Col. in the US Army Reserve. He was a teacher, and then spent 40 years as a small business owner, mentor, and Hall of Fame career with The Principal Financial Group as a life insurance agent. Despite growing up as a wrestler through high school and college, he developed a love for hockey. He was President/GM/Partner of the USHL Bloomington Jr. Stars, Governor of the United States Hockey League and devoted his time to the Gunderson Hockey Scholarship Foundation.

Roy married his love, Darlene Larson, in 1979; together they shared the love of Jesus Christ, church, family, travel, Gopher football, and the MN Twins. They enjoyed golf, bridge, and their friends at Briarwood CC. Not one to stay idle, he was an enthusiastic youth coach for all his children’s activities. Roy volunteered in various board positions and organized many golf tournaments for the benefit of Briarwood CC, Arizona Seniors Golf Association, Evans Scholars Foundation, and the Ft. Snelling Officer’s Club. He was a true Patriot and had a great love for America!

Roy is survived by his loving spouse of 42 years, Darlene; 7 children Kathy Ihle, Brian (Karen) Jenks, Roxanne Jenks, Randy Larson, Shelly (Stu) Hengsteler, David (Wendy) Larson, and Brenda (Mark) Zeimet; 4 siblings, Guy, Richard, James, and Leonard; 13 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and many other loving family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Esther (Lumphrey) Jenks, brother Thomas, son-in-law Dennis Ihle, and first wife, Sheryl Budinger.

Celebration of Life ceremonies will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, October 7, 2022 at Church on the Green, 19051 N. RH Johnson Blvd, Sun City West, AZ 85375 followed by a luncheon. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor/memoriam as follows: Wounded Warrior Project,  https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org, P.O. Box 758516,Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or Evans Scholars Foundation, https://www.wgaesf.org, 2501 Patriot Boulevard, Glenview, IL 60026-8022.