Jeffery Jesse "Jeff" Akins

1942 - 2025

Jeffery "Jeff" Jesse Akins
Born: December 31, 1942 in Freeport, IL
Died: August 22, 2025 in Rockford, IL
Jeffery Jesse Akins of Forreston, IL passed away on August 22, 2025 after spending his last days surrounded by his family.
Jeffery was born on December 31, 1942 to Harry and Mildred Akins. He graduated from Forreston High School in 1961 after spending summers working at a camp for the visually impaired in Vermont called Camp Wapanacki alongside his sister, Cindy Walker. Jeff went on to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carthage College in Kenosha, WI in 1966. After he obtained his degree, Jeff was drafted into the United States Army and served 1 year in Vietnam. Jeffery was honored to serve his country and was truly patriotic throughout his life.
Jeff started his career at Motorola TV. He then began working at First National Bank of Freeport as a loan officer and met his wife, Cynthia Clarke. Jeffery and Cynthia had 3 daughters, Tanya, Amanda, and Kimberly.
Jeffery worked for First National Bank for 17 years and during his tenure there was promoted to Assistant Vice President. He also worked for Stillman Bank and Heritage Credit Union during his career. Jeff always had a love for numbers, and he passed peacefully at 8:22am on August 22, 2025.
Jeffery's pride was his 3 daughters, so he became part of the Girl Scouts of America Board of Directors for over a decade, also serving for a time as treasurer. This was a passion for Jeffery because he had 3 girls that actively participated in Girl Scouts.
Jeff was also honored to serve on the Forreston Library Board for 3 years and as Director for 1 year. This was another area of service where he committed his time to honor his 3 daughters.
Jeffery loved his family, his yard, nature, National Parks, animals, Sunday car rides, everything small town and outdoors. If you wanted to find Jeff, all you needed to do was look in his yard and he would be on his lawn mower doing what he enjoyed. Jeff's sense of humor was known to everyone that enjoyed their time with him. Jeff made jokes until his very last day. Jeff enjoyed spending time with his 3 girls and later in life, his 4 grandchildren, Keegan Jeffery, Maddox Robert, Owen George, and Hazel Elizabeth Marjorie.
Jeffery is survived by Tanya (Duncan) Doyle of Denver, CO, Mandy (Kirk) Pearson of Freeport/Dixon, IL and Kim Akins of Forreston, IL, his grandchildren Keegan Akins, Maddox Busker, Owen Doyle and Hazel Doyle, his beloved brother, John, and his sister-in-law, Wilma. Jeffrey was pre-deceased by his parents, his brother, James, and his sister-in-law, Alice, his brother, Jared, and his sister-in-law, Delores, his sister, Cynthia, and his brother-in-law, Roger Walker.
Services will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Forreston, IL on August 28, 2025. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:30am at the church with the memorial service to follow. Jeff's family, friends and the Forreston community are invited to celebrate his life and share jokes in his honor at a luncheon at the church following the service. The family requests donations be made to Faith Lutheran Church and Fisher House Foundation.
Jeff is sadly missed by his daughters, Tanya, Mandy and Kim, his beloved grandchildren, Keegan, Maddox, Owen, and Hazel and his very best friend, Susan Tyrrell, an angel on earth.