Elva I. Jenks

Elva Irene (Brown) Jenks, 95, of Monmouth, Illinois, passed away peacefully into heaven after a brief illness on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at Legacy Estates of Monmouth.  

She was born on September 21, 1928, in Louisa County, Iowa, the youngest of eleven children and daughter of James Loyd and Helena Catherine (Spaeth) Brown. Elva was raised and attended school, in her early years, in Cairo, Iowa. At the age of ten, Elva’s family moved to Kirkwood, Illinois, where Elva continued her education and graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1946. Her beloved Home Economics teacher told her she would have made an excellent teacher. 

Elva remembered her mother always singing hymns as she went about her daily work and was the first to talk to Elva about God. Elva was baptized in The Church of God, and, after moving to Kirkwood, attended the Kirkwood United Presbyterian Church.  

She loved the time spent with her father in the horse and buggy to deliver items from their garden to neighbors; and her mother taught her the value of music, education, church and family. Her mother made sure all the children attended church and school. 

After graduating from high school, Elva pursued another love of hers and attended the Morse School of Cosmetic Art in Galesburg, Illinois, and received a diploma in March 1947. She was a hairdresser before beginning their family. 

On December 19, 1948, she married Russell Dean Jenks in the Kirkwood United Presbyterian Church, and they lived and farmed in Lenox Township where they raised their family. They were married for 71 years. Russell died in 2019. 

Elva loved her family and was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and homemaker. She enjoyed braiding her granddaughter’s hair, was always ready to help with the grandkids at any time, and loved having the grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit and come for an overnight stay. Elva was a member of Fairview Center United Methodist Church and was a teacher in the Nursery at Fairview Center Church for many years. Along with Russell, Elva enjoyed attending the activities of her children and grandchildren. Russell and Elva enjoyed square dancing and were members of the Roseville Ramblers. They also enjoyed ballroom dancing. After retiring from farming, they moved to Lake Warren where summers brought family for swimming, boating and skiing. 

Elva is survived by her children, Judy (Tom) Gilliland and Stan (Kay) Jenks of Monmouth, and Jeff (Carol) Jenks of Arvada, Colorado. Also surviving are 7 granddaughters, Jenn (Zemirah) Jazwierska (Andrew Dose), Jill Henson (Steve Gebhardt), Krista (Blake) Burns, Andrea (Brian) Kozak, Rachel (Jared) Kunkle, Chelsea (Justin) Petersen and Caitlin Jenks; 13 great-grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren, Jason (Heidi) Gilliland, Brooke (Courtney) Blythe and Grant (Renee) Gilliland; 7 step-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by one sister, Darlene Applegate, of West Lafayette, Indiana. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters, four brothers and her husband. 

Elva’s family thanks the staff of Legacy Estates for their love, care and respect shown to Elva. The family also thanks Hospice Compassus for their care for Elva during the past few months. 

Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at McGuire & Davies Funeral Home and Crematory, Monmouth. Interment will take place at Warren County Memorial Park, Monmouth. Visitation will be Wednesday morning from 9:00-11:00 am at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Fairview Center United Methodist Church, Legacy Estates or Hospice Compassus. For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit, www.mcguireanddaviesfuneralhome.com.