Luise Jenkins

Luise Auguste (Klein) Jenkins entered eternal rest on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, while holding the hand of her beloved in their home in Shawnee, at the age of 86.

 Luise was born in Elversberg, Germany, on October 25, 1937, to parents, Heinrich Klein and Auguste (Schaum) Klein. 

 Luise loved her family with a devotion that could not be matched, and she was loved by them in return. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. The love they shared was a thing of beauty. She was the proudest Oma to an army of grandchildren. Her family knows how loved and cherished they were to her, and she will be loved and cherished by them for all of their days.

 She was a dedicated Christian who truly loved serving her church family and community. 

In the book of Matthew, Jesus said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” She believed and lived this verse to the fullest. She showed pure love not only to her own children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but also to so many others while working in Mothers’ Day Out and daycare and in her neighborhood. Her love of children was as evident in their little eyes as it was in hers. Luise’s soft eyes and melodic voice were a balm for teary eyes and weary souls, in children and adults alike. People often think of German as a harsh language, but hearing Luise coo and sing German nursery songs to her little ones would change your mind. It sounded like the angels were singing.

 She was known for her amazing cooking and baking skills, and sharing her creations gave her great joy. When you visited Luise, you were almost guaranteed to leave with a container of cookies, a jar of delicious vegetables canned from her garden, or some of her famous strawberry jam. Her food was a labor of love that nourished the souls of those she held dear.

There was always room at her table for anybody in need. She welcomed everybody in with open arms, and they left with hearts (and stomachs) overflowing with the love she poured into all who knew her. 

 Those blessed to know her will remember Luise for her Servant’s heart, her resilience, her unlimited capacity for love, and for walking her faith (and neighborhood) to the end of her days.

 Luise was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Max Klein, and her Grandson, Jamarian Jenkins. 

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Carl Jenkins; her children, Susie, Roderick and Alexander; her grandchildren, Emily and Mike Wayland, Hannah and Joey Trujillo, Jonathan Sam, Dakota Jenkins, Sarita Hayes, Aaron Hayes, Weston and Teresa Deaton, Eric Jenkins, Benjamin and Heather Jenkins, Laura Jenkins, Allison Jenkins, Peter Jenkins, Sean and Annie Jenkins, Nehemias Jenkins and Carli Jenkins; her great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Dayton, Eli, Davin, Jude, Cadence, Emerson, Jonathan, Dawson, Amos, Noah, Coralai, Marley, Mila, Joseph, Kallie, Samuel, Nehemias Jr., and Estlyn; and her dear family in Germany to include Heiner Klein and Werner Klein, her much loved brothers.

 The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 11th, from 5-7 pm at Walker Funeral Service in Shawnee. A funeral ceremony will be held at 10 am., Friday, July 12, 2024 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Shawnee, followed by burial at Resthaven Cemetery.