Philip Jenkins funeral - October 12, 2019

On Saturday morning, we had the funeral for Phil Jenkins. The funeral was held at Lampe's Funeral Home and the luncheon was held here at Woodlawn.  Please pray for Phil's family, they have had far, far, far too many passings since I have arrived here in Lake City.  It's tragic that one family has lost so many loved ones in the last four and one-half years.

I have posted the funeral manuscript below.

God bless and comfort them all...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Order of Service – Funeral for Phil Jenkins – Oct 12, 2019

Call to Worship:
O God, who brought us to birth,
and in whose arms we die
in our grief and shock
contain and comfort us;
embrace us with your love,
give us hope in our confusion
and the grace to let go into new life;
through Jesus Christ.  Amen 

Greeting:
We have come together within the strengthening fellowship of friends and family:
to praise God for the life of Philip James Jenkins;
to share our grief with God and with one another;
to reaffirm our faith in God's unfailing goodness;
to hear again God's promise of resurrection;
and to commend Phil to God's everlasting care.

Music: God Only Knows – For King & Country w/Dolly Parton 

Opening Prayer:
Gracious God, your love endures forever.  Your faithfulness is unfailing and all your promises are true.  The movement of your Spirit is evident even in our darkest moments.  Attend to us now in our grief as we trust you will.  
Speak words of comfort to our hearts.  Open us up to receive your hope.
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother Phil.
We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends,
to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage.
In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn.
Give us faith to see death as the gate of eternal life,
so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth 
until by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.


Let us hear now a reading from the Old Testament:  
Psalm 23  King James Version (KJV)
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Let us hear now a reading from the New Testament:
Matthew 20:1-16New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.  10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.  11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?  14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’  16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Music:  I Can Only Imagine – Mercy Me    

Message:  Pastor Roy Karlen – Woodlawn Christian Church
Philip James Jenkins was born on February 4, 1953, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Robert and Donna Jenkins. He graduated from Lake City High School in 1973.  After graduating from High School, Phil went to work for Nobles and worked there until their closing in 1982.  Later, Phil went to work for Bowie Manufacturing in Lake City, where he worked for 25 years until his retirement in 2018.

On July 2, 1997, Phil married Linda Maitland in Lohrville, with Reverend Hill officiating at that celebration. 

When I asked the family for some words to describe Phil, they said:
He would give you the shirt off his back, that he liked to joke, that he loved to cook and he did most of the cooking for the family, he especially loved to grill.  He enjoyed fishing when he was younger and he enjoyed hunting for mushrooms with his family.  Phil enjoyed watching cooking shows on television, they mentioned “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives”.  He also enjoyed watching American Pickers, Deadliest Catch, the History Channel, especially Ancient Aliens, a show that he got Robert hooked on as well, and River Monsters, among others.  The family told me about Phil making his own lead sinkers for fishing, and his attempt at slaughtering his own hogs... which turned out to be a bigger undertaking than he had suspected.  They talked about how he liked to put ketchup on everything. And how that he as the oldest always got what he wanted... at least I'm sure that's how it seemed to his younger siblings.  They told me how he liked apple pie and that Donna, his mother made it for the family often.  Penny, June, and Larry told me he wasn't a particularly fussy eater and that he would finish off whatever was left on his younger sibling's plates.  And the family told me how much Phil loved his grandchildren... they were the light of his life and at the end, he especially responded to his grandson Tristan.

Phil's brother Larry has wonderful memories of playing with his older brother out at their mother Donna's parent's farm.  Phil and Larry would go and visit their Grandmother and Grandfather Visner often.  Sometimes it sounded like they went to visit because Donna had had enough of the two of them.  Larry discussed memories of running out in the field, playing in the barn, helping with the milking, As I mentioned, Phil was the oldest and he always got his way... and as such his siblings pointed out that he got to have a pony... no mention was made of them also having ponies.  The pony lived out at his Grandparent Visner's farm where he was able to ride it during his and Larry's many visits.  June mentioned that Phil also had a pet pigeon which he would take out to the farm and let go, it would then fly back to its roost in Lake City.  The pigeon ended up passing away at the paws of some feral cats and for many years Phil bore a grudge against all cats.  Phil loved all animals and did eventually come to love cats once again.  Larry mentioned he and Phil helping his grandparents care for the cows, chickens, and hogs.  They were so blessed as children to be able to experience farm life with their grandparents.

Penny told stories of Phil lifting her up and putting her on top of the refrigerator, which it didn't sound like she particularly cared for... but, her displeasure... likely simply made an older brother more inclined to continue to park her up there.  She also talked about getting to visit Phil after he'd moved from home and about him taking her 'clamming', looking for clams down on the Raccoon River.  It sounded like she wasn't overly excited about that outing either... 

Phil, Penny, and their Uncle Merle had birthdays very near together and for many years the family celebrated their birthdays as one, having a single party for all three.  I'm sure that those family memories will stay with Phil's siblings for the rest of their lives.  June told me about Phil going mushroom hunting, and fishing with his Uncle Vernard, Uncle Merle, and Grandfather Visner.  They would go hunting for mushrooms every Mother's Day and all three remembered the farm table being covered in mushrooms.

At the end of Phil's life, Linda and Stephanie spent many hours caring for him and they worked very hard to make his passing as peaceful and as comfortable as possible.  Stephanie and Linda were a great blessing to Phil and they should rest assured that he appreciated their every effort on his behalf.

Phil did not live the easiest of lives... the most tragic event of his life was the death of his son Shane who died at the all too young age of 32.  Shane was born when Phil himself was very young, born on January 18, 1975.  All of you here, are... I am certain well aware of the circumstances around Shane's accident and death.  Shane's death was extremely traumatic for Phil and for the rest of his life Phil held a misguided grudge against God.  I do believe though that at the end of Phil's life he reconciled with God in his own way.

I went to visit Phil a number of times in the hospital in Des Moines and then several times again once he'd come home to Lake City.  It was obvious from very near the beginning of Phil's hospitalization that his condition was terminal.  I was able to say several prayers with Phil and once while visiting with him in Des Moines when none of the family were in the room I was able to share with him that God loved him and I could see in his eyes... and in the grip he had on my hand that he understood... and that he too loved God and desired reconciliation.

Luke 15:11-24 Revised Standard Version (RSV)
The Parable of the Prodigal Son
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons; 12 and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. 15 So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have fed on[a] the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[b] 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.

Stephanie shared with me that as he neared the end of his life... that Phil talked to her and Linda about seeing his mother Donna there in the house.  I do believe that as we near our own deaths... that the veil between this world and the next... becomes thinner and thinner.  Nearing our own crossing it is not uncommon to begin to see loved ones who have passed there with us.  I believe that God sends these spirits to soothe our anxiety and to help prepare us for our final journey.  It is in my humble opinion... a great reassurance and a tremendous blessing... that God saw fit to send Phil's mother Donna to fetch him home again.  Donna was without a doubt one of the finest and most lovely souls I've ever encountered.  If any single one of us has a hope of living eternally with the Almighty... certainly Donna is that one.

God sent Donna to comfort her little boy and to escort him into the Kingdom of God.  What an amazing... amazing... thing that was and is.  And given what Penny, June, and Larry told me... I'm sure Donna was there to take his hand in her's... and in her other hand... she likely had the most amazing apple pie one could ever hope to consume... just for her little boy.

Praise be to God for the love of a mother.... and most of all for the love of our Heavenly Father who understands our hardships, our hardheartedness, our anger and frustration, and who wishes nothing more than to love us and hold us in His embrace... Praise be to God indeed.

The family would like for me to share this little poem with you all:

Getting Tired
God saw you getting tired,
and a cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around you
and whispered, "Come with Me."
With tearful eyes, we
watched you slowly fade away.
Although we loved you dearly,
we would not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
your hard-working hands put to rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

Though we each grieve the loss of Phil, we should all rest assured that this is only a temporary parting and that we'll each get to see Phil's smile once again when we are all reunited in Heaven.  Praise be to God.  Today Phil is reunited with all of his friends and family that have gone on before him, today he is reunited with his mother Donna, and his son Shane... and today he is in the very presence of our almighty and all-loving God... Praise be to God...

Eulogies: 
The family would like at this time to allow anyone who might wish to share some memories of Phil to please do so now.  If you'd like you may come forward to speak, or if you'd rather please stand and speak from where you are.  Please do speak loudly in order to allow everyone to hear you.

Thank you all.

Before we close in prayer, I think it would be appropriate to hear one of Phil's mother's favorite songs.  This song always brought a tremendous smile to Donna's face, and I can only imagine today that Donna has a truly enormous and joy-filled smile upon her face as she holds her boy once more and as they are both held securely within one pair of hands...

Music:    One Pair of Hands

Closing Prayer:
The family invites you all to join them in further celebration of  Phil's life and a time of shared remembrances and closure, by joining with them for a luncheon at Woodlawn Christian Church, please join them at Woodlawn in the Church's fellowship hall immediately following this service.  Phil's ashes will be interred at a later date.

Let us please pray:
O God, our Strength, and our Redeemer, Giver of life, and Conqueror of death, we open our hearts to you just as we are.  We celebrate your gift of life freely given but are grieved by a sense of loss in the face of death.  The love which binds us to one another leaves us aching as ties are broken.  Accept our tears as emblems of devotion, and transform them into waters of life to nourish us in the days ahead.
We trust you.  We love you.  We know in Christ that your love is everlasting.  Nothing can separate any of us from your abiding care.  With you is eternal life.

With confidence, we now entrust Phil to your unfailing love and overflowing goodness.  Through the power that raised Christ from the dead to live eternally with you, lift up this man, to life fulfilled beyond our imagining.  We give you but your own, enfold him in your everlasting arms, hold him for he is your child.

Now strengthen us, through the gift of your Spirit, to face into the future with confidence that you stand with us.  Grant that the changes of life may leave us stronger as we journey through life.

Reassured of your abiding presence, help us to knit more firmly the ties that bind us one to another.  Renewed by your love, help us to love in ever-larger circles so as to embrace your people everywhere till at last we are all united eternally through Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Benediction:

Music:     "I Could Not Ask for More"  Sara Evans