Obituary of Thomas Henry Jenk

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Thomas H. Jenk Sr., 83, of Dyersville, Iowa died Saturday, August 10, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center, Dyersville, Iowa. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 13, 2013, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a vigil service will be held at 5 p.m. and American Legion Post 137 will conduct a service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in St. Francis Cemetery. Rev. Richard Gaul will officiate and American Legion Post 137 will accord Military Honors. Tom was born May 28, 1930, in Dyersville, Iowa, the son of Max and Lyodia (Frommelt) Jenk. He graduated from Xavier High School with the Class of 1948 and attended the University of Iowa and finished at Drake Law School. He married Beverly Lancaster on July 10, 1951, in Des Moines, Iowa. He practiced law in Dyersville beginning in 1951 with his father. Tom's practice continued until his death. His family was his greatest love, but baseball was a close second. He played for the University of Iowa, 2 years for the Air Force and became captain of the Drake Baseball team in 1954. His banner years were 1961 - 1963 with the Dyersville Whitehawks. In 1963, he was selected as one of 18 players on the Unites States Team for the Pan American Games in Brazil and was selected to serve on the U.S. Olympic Baseball Committee in 1973. He also served as an assistant coach for his son, Tom Jenk, Jr. with the Beckman High School Varsity team for many years. The Jenk family has been so active with baseball over the years that the field at the Commercial Club Park has been named in their honor. Survivors include his wife, Bev, 3 children: Tom Jr. (Pam) and Lisa (Jude) Milbert, both of Dyersville, and David of Mt. Vernon; 6 grandchildren: Drew (Lisa) Jenk, Brooke (Bob Bush) Jenk, David C. Jenk and Kris Jenk, Miki (Derrick) Parsons and Cassie (Jesse) Costigan; 4 great grandchildren; a sister, Jeanne Goen of Dyersville, a brother-in-law, Jim Thomas of San Antonio, TX, and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother-in-law, John Goen, and a sister-in-law, Gloria Thomas. Memorials are preferred to Beckman High School. We would like to extend a very special thank you to the nurses at Mercy Medical Center in Dyersville, and to Hospice of Dubuque for their excellent and professional care.