Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Jenkins, Wm. F. 1879
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net December 29, 2010, 9:36 pm

Ionia Sentinel, 21 Feb 1879

Rev. Wm. F. Jenkins, a superannuated Minister of the Michigan Conference, of 
the M. E. Church, died at his residence, in Pewamo, on Sabbath morning, the 
16th inst., at one o’clock aged 73 years.  He was converted when quite young 
and joined the M.E. Church, and quite early in his religious life gave good 
evidence to his brethren that God had called him to the work of the ministry, 
and he was licensed to officiate as a local preacher, which office he magnified 
for a number of years and at the earnest solicitation of some of his brethren, 
he was finally induced to engage in the regular work of the ??; and while in 
the active work filled with great acceptability the following circuits in the 
order in which they here appear: St. Joseph, Otsego, Ganges, Middleville, 
Greenville, Saranac, Lowell, Palo, Dewitt, Easton, Pewamo.

These last ?? names were filled after he had been granted a superannuated 
relation by the Conference, but he had such a desire to work that he worked on 
under circumstances when most men would have said, it is impossible for me to 
work.  For the last nine years he has been unable to preach, except an 
occasional sermon, and much of the time he has been a great sufferer, but has 
shown by his patient endurance what grace can do in the matter of helping poor 
suffering human nature to endure without complaint whatever of physical pain 
may fall to the lot of one who feels himself only a sojourner in this vale of 
sorrow.

His death was peaceful and triumphant being assured that his work was done and 
his reward sure.

He leaves a wife, and five children by a former wife who preceded him to the 
world of light several years since, having lived with her who now mourns his 
loss for about seven years very happily.  He leaves a large circle of friends 
and but few, if any enemies.  We laid his body to rest on the 1?th, inst., 
after a very solemn and impressive service at the church, led by his pastor, 
Rev. G. W. Moeg, and participated in by several of his ministerial brethren 
from other charges.  A large concourse of people were in attendance and 
manifested their interest in the services by remaining patiently and listening 
attentively, and often with tearful eyes, to every word said from the first to 
the final close and all seemed to feel as they looked on his face for the last 
time, “we are taking our leave of one whose presence and influence will be 
missed as much or more than any other one ever taken from our midst,” and all 
seemed to say –

Thou are gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee,  Since God was thy 
ransom, thy guardian and guide; He gave thee, He took thee, and He will receive 
thee, Where death has no sting since the Savior has died.


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