Le Roy Jenkinson

Le Roy (Roy) Feldman Jenkinson, 89, died quietly in his sleep at his daughter's home in Bedford, New Hampshire on February 19, 2018, from complications due to diabetes.

Mr. Jenkinson was born on October 5, 1928 to Jeanette (Jennie) Hannephin nee Mulcahey. Mr. Jenkinson was the grandson of Mary nee Cairns and Thomas Mulcahey of Chicago. Very early in Mr. Jenkinson's childhood he was taken in by Bertha Jenkinson nee Feldman and her husband Frederick, who died shortly afterward. At the time, the Jenkinson's lived with her husband's former stepmother, Claire Lillian Strawn (Jenkinson), her second husband, Arthur B. Strawn and Mrs. Strawn's daughter from her first marriage, Frances Cleo Jenkinson, in Bellwood, IL. Claire Strawn took in Le Roy's sister, Jeanette La Vern Hannephin. Le Roy and his sister were raised as cousins, living nearby each other during their childhood.

In the early years of the Great Depression, Mr. Jenkinson and his mother moved to the Chicago west side neighborhood of Garfield Park. There, Mr. Jenkinson attended Crane Tech High School and learned how to play the trumpet. In May 1945, Mr. Jenkinson was formally adopted by Bertha Jenkinson, the woman who loved and raised him. She died in February 1953 at the age of 45.

Seven days after his seventeenth birthday, Mr. Jenkinson enlisted in the Marine Corp. where he was stationed in Newfoundland, Canada and was a member of the Marine Band in Washington D.C. He left the Marines in June 1949, to enlist in the Army. The Korean War erupted in June 1950 and three months later, Mr. Jenkinson was sent to Korea. There, Mr. Jenkinson received a battlefield promotion to 2nd Lieutenant and later became a 1st Lieutenant. He was an armored tank platoon leader and was awarded a Bronze Star with Valor for his bravery during a tank battle on September 27, 1951 near Waichon-Ni.

He left Korea in the spring of 1952, to study Nike Missile technology at the Army Armor and Missile School in Fort Benning, Georgia. During the Cold War era of the 1950s and 60s, Nike Missile sites replaced the anti-aircraft batteries that ringed the large U.S. cities, military installations and major defense industry and research facilities during World War II. Nike Missiles were designed to defend against Soviet Union bombers.

While stationed at Fort Carson, Mr. Jenkinson met JoEllen Harrell in nearby Colorado Springs, CO. They were married March 17, 1956 in the home of his wife's parents in Pueblo, CO. During their marriage they had three children: Michelle, Robert and Eric.

Shortly after he was married, Mr. Jenkinson was stationed at the Nike Missile base along the Cal-Sag Channel, Oak Lawn (now Alsip), IL and lived at the married enlisted men's residences in (now) Palos Heights. He, later, was stationed at the Nike Missile base that defended Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL, living on the grounds of Argonne with his wife and their daughter. They were located near his sister Jeanette's Palos Hills home. He specialized in missile defense systems for the remainder of his Army service, which included a tour of duty in South Vietnam near the close of his military career. Mr. Jenkinson loved his country and was a VFW Lifetime Member.

After retiring from the Army in 1966, Mr. Jenkinson then moved his family to California where he worked as a flight simulator technician for the U.S. Department of Defense. Mr. Jenkinson and his family moved to Russellville, AR in 1979 and continued to work for the Defense Department at the Little Rock Air Force Base, retiring in 1989.

Mr. Jenkinson was happiest when spending time with his wife, family and later, his grandchildren, who were a particular joy to him. Mr. Jenkinson and his family visited the following National Parks: Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Sequoia, Mesa Verde. His family also explored Four Corners and White Sands National Monuments, Big Sur State Park, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Crater Lake. Mr. Jenkinson's interests included movies, math, science and organic gardening. At his Russellville, AR home, he cultivated a very large organic garden and his wife canned much of its produce.

Mr. Jenkinson is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 43 years, JoEllen, whose ashes will be buried with him; his grandson, Robert Andrew Jenkinson; and his siblings, Mary Mauter nee Hannephin, Charles Hannephin, Russell (Hannephin) Elliott, Jeanette (Harris) Hickey nee Strawn, Merrill Hannephin. Mr. Jenkinson is survived by three children, Michelle Morgan (Don), Bedford, NH, Robert Jenkinson (Cynthia), Joplin, Mo, Eric Jenkinson, Conway, AR; former daughter-in-law, Michelle Jenkinson, Edmund, OK; four beloved grandchildren; one great-grandson and nieces and nephews.

ARRANGEMENTS: His Visitation will be held in the Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover St., Manchester, on Thursday, March 1, 4:00-7:00P.M. His Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Friday, March 2, 10:00A.M. Burial with military honors to follow at 12:00P.M. at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Hwy, Boscawen, NH.