Kenneth Charles Jenks

Kenneth C. Jenks was born on October 13, 1937 at Kalamazoo, Michigan to Keeny & Louise (Tilly) Jenks. He attended parochial school and public high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Following graduation from Concordia Junior and Senior Colleges at Fort Wayne, Indiana, he proceeded to the seminary at St. Louis, graduating in 1963 after serving his vicarage at Marshfield, Wisconsin. He was ordained at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan, on June 9, 1963.
On February 11, 1961 he married Judith Laitinen at Marshfield, Wisconsin. They had six children: Jon, Todd, Tim, Brian, Amy, and Betsy.
Pastor Jenks served: St. John's Lutheran Churches of McClusky-Kongsberg-Arena, North Dakota 1963-1966; St. Mark's Lutheran Church of St. Charles, Illinois 1966-1970; Immanuel Stirum and Zion Gwinner, North Dakota 1970-1977; St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Minot, North Dakota 1977-1998; Canoga Park Lutheran Church, California 1999-2006; Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Los Gatos, California 2009-2016 (as Supporting Pastor); Christ the Life Lutheran Church of San Jose, California 2016-2020; and Our Savior's First Lutheran Church of Granada Hills, California 2020-2023; finally retiring after 60 years of being a pastor.
Throughout his life he enjoyed music and singing. In the 90's he joined with Bonnie Rennich in Minot, North Dakota for a series of Concerts at the church he was serving and they also took these concerts to other sister churches around the state: Concert of Calvary, Concert of America, Concert of Homecoming and Concert of Bethlehem.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Judy; his children: Jon, Todd (Lori), Tim (Michelle), Amy Sauter (Justin), and Betsy Burnham (Michael); 8 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, his sister Lois, as well as other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Keeny & Louise; his brother Al; his son Brian; and his grandson Donovan.
Memorials – give a gift to fund future pastors! The Rev. K.C. Jenks Endowed Scholarship Fund has been established at his alma mater, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Checks may be made payable to Concordia Seminary, with memo line Rev. K.C. Jenks Endowed Scholarship, and sent to: Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105.