Van Ernest Jenkins

Our beloved Husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, Van Earnest Jenkins, 79, passed away on August 3rd, 2024, due to heart-related issues. He was a lifelong resident of Newton, Utah.

Van was born May 16, 1945 in Logan, Utah, the son of Allan Jenkins and VeNeal Hannah Jensen Jenkins. His youth was spent playing sports, fishing at the creek, and playing with cousins and friends. He graduated from North Cache High School in 1963 and married his high-school sweetheart, Marsha Sutherland, on September 24,1965 in the Logan, Utah Temple. They would have marked their 59th wedding anniversary this September. Van and Marsha have had a beautiful life together raising and loving 6 children, 20 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

Van was a lifelong farmer. He loved every part of the process: from raising Suffolk sheep, to cutting that first swath of hay, prepping the combines, and making that first cut into the grain. He even loved the smell of the harvest dust. He was the world's best pessimist when it came to broken equipment, but always found a way to get things going… just in time.

In 1985, he took a job as a firefighter at Thiokol. He became an Engine Operator in 1990, and then a Fire Captain in 1992. He made many great friendships there and loved pulling pranks on his co-workers. He retired in 2009. He just recently put on his full uniform (in 100-degree weather!) for all the family and grandkids to enjoy.

Van loved coaching his sons, grandsons, and the youth in basketball and football. He especially loved fishing, duck hunting, carpentry, gardening, snowmobiling, farming, and sleeping on the backyard swing. Van is famous for his sense of humor, telling stories, giving advice (wanted or not), his “old-man” voice, quirky jokes, nicknames for all the grandchildren, and his endless love for Coke Zero.

Van loved being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had a strong testimony, great faith, and he loved his Savior, Jesus Christ, very much. He served many callings over the years, including Elder’s Quorum Presidency, High Council member, counselor in the Bishopric, teacher, and teaching and coaching the young men and youth. His most cherished calling was serving a Senior Mission from March 2023 to March 2024 with his wife, Marsha.

Van is survived by his wife, Marsha; children, Troy (Jennifer) Jenkins, Marnie (Russell) Bingham, Corey (Amanda) Jenkins, Monica (Ryan) Lindsay, Melanie (Jarom) Douglass-Lee, and Michael (Leinani) Jenkins; 20 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Annette Benson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Robert; his sister Marsha; and his brother-in-law, Mark Benson.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 9, 2024 at 12 noon in the Newton Chapel. There will be a viewing at the Newton Chapel on Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. and again on Friday from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Newton Cemetery.

To view the services CLICK HERE PASSCODE 123456