James E. "Jim" Jennings, 76, of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, January 19, 2014 at his winter home in Donna, Texas. A funeral service for Jim will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, January 27 at the First Baptist Church, 100 E. Webster Street, Mount Pleasant. The Reverends Jim Erwin and Harold Schutte will officiate. Burial will be in the Oakland Mills Cemetery, rural Mt. Pleasant. Military honors will be conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard. Friends may call from 2-8 PM on Sunday, January 26 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 4-6 PM Sunday afternoon. Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to Border Missions/Helping Hand Ministry, the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department or Iowa Hospice. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com James Eugene Jennings was born February 11, 1937 in Mt. Pleasant. He was the son of Melvin Howard and Harriet Lorraine (nee Long) Jennings. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1955. On June 9, 1957, he was united in marriage to Janet Belle Hoffman at the First Presbyterian Church in Mt. Pleasant. On September 6, 1955, Jim entered the United States Navy. He served aboard the destroyer USS John C. Butler. He was honorably discharged on September 17, 1957 at the U.S. Naval Base in Long Beach, California. Upon his return home, Jim worked on the family dairy, Jennings Dairy. He then began a long career as owner and operator of Jennings Tire and Towing, spending most of his days in the tow truck until his retirement in 1999. After his full time retirement, Jim became a funeral associate for the Weir Funeral Home and later the Kimzey Funeral Home. During the winter months, he and Janet resided at their winter home in Donna, TX. They spent their winters working with several mission groups helping the needy in the South. Jim was a member of First Baptist Church; the former Jay-Cee's of Mt. Pleasant and was a former member of the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department. In his spare time, Jim enjoyed watching his son and grandson in car races at which he also operated his wrecker. He enjoyed the outdoors - fishing, hunting and mushrooming. He greatly enjoyed talking to anyone and everyone, not knowing a stranger. He had a great love for all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Those thankful for sharing in Jim's life include his wife of 56 years, Janet of Mt. Pleasant; 4 children - Bob Jennings of Mt. Pleasant, Lori Bolin and her husband Greg of Mt. Pleasant, Cathy Johnson and her husband Kent of Wheaton, IL and Ed Jennings and his wife Erin of Ankeny, IA; a sister and her husband - Donna and Jon Knedler of Weslaco, TX; 10 grandchildren - Jennifer (Lonny) Kolln, Rob Jennings, Mitch Jennings, Nick (Heather) Bolin, Bryan (Ali) Bolin, Tim (Kelsey) Bolin, Esther, Hannah and MaryJane Johnson and Evan Jennings and 4 great grandchildren - Gabe and Chloe Bolin, and Sidney and Caden Kolln. He is preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Stephanie Jennings.

Visitation

JAN 26. 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CST)

Kimzey Funeral Home 213 North Main Street Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641

Family Present to Greet Friends

JAN 26. 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM (CST)

Kimzey Funeral Home 213 North Main Street Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641

Service

JAN 27. 10:30 AM (CST)

First Baptist Church 100 East Webster St. Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641