Patsy Jean Jenkins

Patsy Jean Neiman Unck Jenkins passed this mortal coil during the wee hours of the morning on November 6th, 2023, surrounded by loved ones as her tender husband of sixty-four years held her hand. She was 84.

Born in San Francisco on December 14th, 1938, Patsy joined an older sister Diane, mother Marie, and father George Neiman, in a family that would double in size only a few years later. Following the tragic death of her father, her mother remarried John Unck and welcomed new siblings, Walter, Sheila, and later Johnny. Raised in the Mission District, she graduated with honors from Lowell High School and received a dance scholarship to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She was known to raise the heart rates of young men. Later, as an adult, she would raise blood pressure.  

As a freshman she had a class assignment to create a pedigree chart. This introduced Patsy to two things: a family lineage she knew nothing about, and the love of genealogy; a passion which she enjoyed for 67 years. Through researching her Dutch and German ancestry, she discovered ancestors who were early Mormon pioneers and among some of the first converts in the Netherlands. She was also a member of The Daughters of the American Revolution.

In the summer of 1957, during summer break back in San Francisco, while attending a church social event, she met a handsome dental student going to UC San Francisco. His name was Philip Jenkins. That night she told her parents she'd met the man she was going to marry. They promptly told her to go to bed. But true to her word, they courted and were later married on August 25th, 1959, in the Los Angeles California Temple. Almost two years later they welcomed a baby daughter. Then a son. More children followed, as did difficult pregnancies and miscarriages. They raised six children to maturity in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno, California; where they lived for 40 years until retiring to Conifer, Colorado.

Patsy lived for her family and grandchildren and loved them the only way she knew how – tenaciously and with her whole heart. Quick to laugh and dance at a moment's notice, she could be both endearing and terrifying at the same time. She hosted extended family Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations throughout the years, and even opened her home to her parents, where they lived for over 30 years. She loved autumn leaves, sunrises, and sunsets. You could always tell if Patsy had read a book because every other word would be underlined or circled, especially if it was a self-help book read vicariously for her husband. She served in various capacities in church callings throughout her life and had a strong love of the restored gospel. Date nights and vacations were often spent visiting temples and doing temple work for her ancestors. She had a charitable and generous heart. Whatever mishaps that happened along the way, her heart and intentions were always for the best. And she was loved dearly for it.

She is preceded in death by her father George David Neiman, her loving mother Marie Prina Denkers Neiman Unck, her father John Berend Unck, her sister Edith Crouse, her sister Diane Politis, and brother Walter Unck. She is also preceded by her daughter, Melissa Jean, son Philip Adam, and great-grandchildren Ryan and Aspen Griffith.

She is survived by her loving husband of sixty-four years, Dr. Philip A. Jenkins, eldest daughter Darleen (Kelly) Simonsen, eldest son John (Robin) Jenkins, daughter Sharee (John) Pack, son Bradley (Dr. Leslie McCoy) Jenkins, son David (Robin) Jenkins, and daughter Michelle (Dr. Eric) Rackley. She is also survived by her twenty-three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, as well as her sister Sheila Unck Criss and brother Johnny Unck.

A memorial service will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 11:00am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Evergreen Chapel, 7645 Malamute Drive, Evergreen, CO. For those wishing to participate virtually, please use this zoom link on the 18th at 11:00am: https://zoom.us/j/92010265916?pwd=UG0rMXJlM3NEVGdicDhocU1IMm5vQT09

The family will greet friends just prior to the service at the Church, from 10:00-10:45am.

Interment will be at Evergreen Memorial Park.