William H. Jenkins, 80, died Jan. 7, 2004, at the Veterans Hospital in Omaha.

Funeral services were Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Church of Christ in Misssouri Valley, Iowa. Interment was in St. Bridget's Cemetery in Magnolia, Iowa.

William Henry Jenkins was born July 28, 1923, in Stone County, Mo., to Joshua Joseph and Peggy Ann (Bilyeu) Jenkins. His childhood was spent riding horses and helping farm in the hills of Stone County.

He left the hills to serve his country in the Navy duriing World War II. Upon his return, he continued farming and blacksmithing. Whether he was trimming the hooves or straddling a saddle, he was never far away from a horse. Breaking horses, sometimes his own bones, he was, and remained, a true cowboy. His heart for farming took him to Colorado as a ranch hand. There his heart found a new love when he met the rancher's niece, Janet Lewis, of Modale, Iowa. On their first date, he stopped by the horse pasture. Grabbing a lariat, he easily lassoed a horse and Janet's heart.

The couple were married Jan. 1, 1956, and had three children. The Jenkins started their lives as a couple in Missouri before moving to a small farm in Magnolia, Iowa, when their children were very young. There, he once again farmed in the hills, and also worked as a welder at Kelly Ryan Manufacturing in Blair, and later at Westendorf Industries in Onawa.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; two sons, Jim of Magnolia and Dan of Council Bluffs, Iowa; daughter and son-in-law, Joetta and Randy Alexander of Blair; one grandson; sisters, Inez Hicks and Helen Walker of Missouri, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by sisters, Zola Jenkins, Esther Sloan, Georgia Martin, Betty Jenkins and Irma Ross; son-in-law, Dale Pitt; and many beloved brothers-in-law.

Hennessey-Aman Funeral Home in Missouri Valley was in charge of arrangements.