Jerome “Jim” Jennings
January 8, 1942 ~ August 10, 2023
Jerome “Jim” Jennings, 81, Salem, SD, formerly of Hartford, SD, passed away on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at his home.
Visitation with family will be 5-7pm, Thursday, August 31, 2023, at Heartland Funeral Home, with a Memorial Service beginning at 7pm. Private burial will be Friday, September 1, at St. Anne’s Cemetery in Humboldt.
Jim Eugene Jennings was born in Richland, CA, on January 8, 1942, to I.B. “Buck” and Gladys (Cheney) Jennings. Jim attended and graduated from Bancroft High School, Bancroft, SD. After graduation, he attended school for the automotive mechanic industry. In 1964, Jim married Audrey Glynn and from this marriage three children were born; Sheri, David and Brian. They were divorced in 1970. In 1970, Jim married Johanna “Joann” Merrill and he gained four stepchildren; Ken, Jerry, Cindy, and Steve. They moved to Flandreau, SD, and lived there from 1970-1975 and they had two additional children together; Dawn and Jerrett. After leaving Flandreau, they moved to Casper, WY, and later Glenrock, WY, where they made their home for over 10 years while Jim worked for Del’s Alignment, in Casper. They moved to Parker, SD, in 1986, for 2 years where Jim worked for the John Morrell Company until layoffs occurred, and then at Wheelco Brake in Sioux Falls, SD. Jim and Joann moved to Hartford, SD, in 1988, where he continued working for Wheelco Brake and then later, Tammen Oil, in Hartford. After retirement, Jim continued working part-time for the West Central School District as a transportation driver. Their home was sold in Hartford, in 2016, and they then moved to their current residence in Salem.
In his younger days, in Flandreau, Jim was a member of a bowling team and played on a softball team. He enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout his life and was a member of the Crooks Gun Club, where he shot trap for many years.
Jim is survived by his wife, Joann Jennings; sons, Ken Merrill, Muskegon MI, Steve (Ginny) Merrill, Rapid City, SD, David (Angie) Jennings, Canton, SD, Brian (Steph Schuttloffel) Jennings, Canton, SD, Jerrett (April) Jennings, Sioux Falls, SD; one daughter, Dawn (Todd) Price, Humboldt, SD; one sister-in-law, Mary Jennings, Bancroft, SD; 29 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and numerous other family and friends.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, I.B. and Gladys Jennings; step-mother, Caroline Jennings; brother, Delbert Jennings; twin sister, Sandra Cramer; brother-in-law, Robert “Bob” Cramer; daughters, Sheri Gatto, and Cindy Elliott; son-in-law, Stephen Elliott; son, Jerry Merrill; grandson, Jordan; and great-grandson, Jordan David.
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