Michael Kenneth Jenkins

Mike was born April 15, 1955 to Billie and Kenneth Jenkins in Joplin Missouri. He grew up in Duenweg, Missouri where his childhood was filled with playing outdoors with brother John and sister Michelle. The family was involved with church and you could find them every Wednesday and Sunday at Atlas Christian Church, now known as College Heights Christian Church in Joplin, where his parents Kenneth and Billie were founding members. Education began at Duenweg elementary, then Junior High and graduated Parkwood High School in 1973. He then attended Missouri Southern State College in Joplin, Missouri. His younger years were filled with activities such as, Boy Scouts, target practice with his BB gun and playing the saxophone. He worked at Shotgun Sam’s, a local pizza restaurant in Joplin and saved enough money to buy his first car, a 1963 Impala SS. On September 15, 1979 Mike and Deb were married at St. Dominic Church in Bolingbrook, Il. They made their first home in Jefferson City, Missouri where Mike was employed as a Zales store manager. A transfer with Zales sent them to St. Joseph, Missouri where their first child, Amy was born on April 12, 1982. The next transfer was to Kansas City where their second child James was welcomed into the world on February 3, 1984. In 1988 Mike began his career with Citizen Watch. He developed long lasting friendships with customers and fellow sales and marketing representatives. He was driven to succeed, which lead to earning many awards and trips with the company. He later figured through-out his career he had spent three and half years in hotel rooms while traveling throughout the Midwest. Mike retired May of 2023. He loved cars and music, family and friends and get togethers where ever he could tell a story. He had the art of conversation and never knew a stranger. He was smart, kind, caring and onery with one-liners. His heart went out to his two grandchildren Harper and Declan. They loved playing board games and cards, but water balloons were their favorite. He had a Corvette that he named “The Bat Mobile”. Music was a passion of Mike’s. His favorite, the blues and rock and a great guitarist would make the top of his list. Mike was a lifelong Kansas City Chiefs fan; a love that he passed down to his children and grandchildren. Mike had been treated for AML leukemia. He received a donor stem cell transplant in March 2023, it was successful and he planned to continue life with zest. On July 23, 2023 he was hospitalized and sadly passed on July 24, 2023. He was preceded in death by father Kenneth Jenkins and sister Michelle Carpenter. Mike is survived by wife Deb, children Amy (Joseph) Getz, son James (Christie) Jenkins, grandchildren Harper and Declan Jenkins all of Omaha, Nebraska, mother Billie Jenkins and brother John (Kim) Jenkins of Joplin, Missouri. He will be missed by friends, brother in-laws, sister in-laws, and many nieces and nephews. He remains forever in our hearts. Memorials to The Leukemia Lymphoma Society or Bethematch.org

Michael Kenneth Jenkins

April 15, 1955 - July 24, 2023