Genevieve Marie Jennings

Genevieve Marie (Genny) Jennings, aged 101, of Owosso, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 11, 2024 at The Meadows.
Genny was born July 23, 1923, in St Louis, Missouri, the first child of Ralph Adelbert and Irma Ivy (Eckles) Johnson. She graduated from Brentwood High School where she excelled in art and music and played drums and glockenspiel in the marching band. During that time, she worked in her step-father's restaurant and grocery store after which she worked as a chemist at Monsanto Chemical. She joined the United States Marine Corps in 1944 and was stationed as a clerk at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. There she met Howard M. Jennings, who was a Pharmacist Mate in the US Navy attached to the USMC, and they were married at Camp LeJeune after both were discharged in November 1945. They moved back to Owosso, where Howard was an owner at Jennings-Lyons Chapel, and they lived for the remainder of their lives.
Genny and Howard had nine children. She is preceded in death by daughters Marie Louise McClelland and Laura Lee Wisenbaugh and by sons Paul Ward and Alvin Thomas Jennings. She is survived by Ralph (Orrin) Jennings of Peachtree City, GA; Charles M. Jennings of Summerfield, FL; Rae Ann Johansson of Onsala, Sweden; Wells E. Jennings of Lynden, WA; Martha Ann Beckett of Columbus, OH; 32 grandchildren, and 27 great grandchildren.
Genny had a full life of service to church, family, friends, and country. She was a leader in most of those organizations. Genny was active in the Owosso First United Methodist Church, and she was instrumental in organizing a series of May Breakfast events at the church. She was a cub scout den mother and brownie and girl scout leader. She was a life member of Abigail Chapter #206 of the Order of Eastern Star and a service mother for the Shiawassee Chapter of DeMolay and for the Owosso Bethel of the Job's Daughters. Genny and Howard were founding and life members of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), and she acted as National Secretary and National Vice President for a total of 7 years. She was a also President and officer of the Michigan Chapter FMCA (Michigan Knights of the Highway.) Genny was extremely proud of her service in the US Marine Corps during WWII. She was one of the forces behind the formation of the Owosso chapter of the Women Marines Association (WMA), President of the chapter for two years, and a life member of WMA. She was also a life member of the Marine Corps League (MCL) and for several years Quartermaster for The Harold R. Cooley Detachment 841 in Owosso.
Funeral services will be held at the Watkins Brothers Funeral Home Jennings-Lyons Chapel on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Visitation will begin at 11:00 with the service at 1:00pm. Burial will be at the Howard Cemetery on Terrell Road in Bennington alongside her husband and other family members.
Genny will be sorely missed, but we are thankful and grateful for her long and dedicated service to family, God and country.