Herschel John Jenkel's Obituary
Herschel John Jenkel, age 93, of Pinckneyville, IL, passed away Saturday morning, March 24, 2012, at his home. Herschel was born on November 9, 1918, in Perry County, IL, a son to John Herschel and Mary (Braden) Jenkel. On September 3, 1940, in St. Louis, Missouri, Herschel married Ernestine Schwartzkopf, and she preceded him in death on April 17, 2010. Herschel worked thirty-eight years as an underground coal miner for Peabody Coal Company, and was a member of UMWA District 12, American Thresherman Association, and the Beaucoup Baptist Church, Pinckneyville, IL. Growing up on the farm during the Depression, by the age of five, he was plowing with a team of well-seasoned horses, and always thought horses were fun and not work. Herschel always loved caring for his farm animals, gardening and sharing his harvest. Some of his hobbies included reading, collecting antique tractors, timber harvesting, and operating his own sawmill. He could have been known as "Mr. Fix-it", and collected many a treasure for potential repurposing. Herschel never met a stranger, and always welcomed the opportunity to visit. Herschel is survived by four children, Marilyn (Gene) Pick, Pinckneyville, IL; Ross (Kathy) Jenkel, Tamaroa, IL, Susie (Ron) Weeks, Pinckneyville, IL; and Kathryn (Tony Fontana) Jenkel, Carbondale, IL; three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, Nicole (Doug) Teel and their children, Lucas, Brevin, Isaac, Vanessa, Zachary, and Carson, Tamaroa, IL; Kelly (Jay) Pursell and their children, Easton and Ella, Waterloo, IL; and David Pick, Pinckneyville, IL; brother, Lloyd B. (Dorothy) Jenkel, East Peoria, IL; sister, Laura Jane Ogilvie, Cerritos, CA; sisters-in-law, Erla Jenkel, Pinckneyville, IL, Irene Schwartzkopf, DuBois, IL, Irma Stolz, Coulterville, IL, Virginia Schwartzkopf, Nashville, IL; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Richard (Betty) Schwartzkopf, Nashville, IL, Mervin (Dolores) Schwartzkopf, Nashville, IL; numerous nieces and nephews, and his faithful canine companions, Pepsi and Brownie. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother, Dean Jenkel; brothers-in-law, Jack Ogilvie, Orval Schwartzkopf, Ornell Stolz, and James Schwartzkopf. Funeral services will be held at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Mark Lee officiating. Interment will be in Mueller Hill Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL. Friends may call at Pyatt Funeral Home on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Beaucoup Baptist Church, Mueller Hill Cemetery, or Perry County Humane Society, and will be accepted at the funeral home.
What’s your fondest memory of Herschel?
What’s a lesson you learned from Herschel?
Share a story where Herschel's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Herschel you’ll never forget.
How did Herschel make you smile?