Dennis Alan Jenkins

Dennis Alan Jenkins, born on April 11, 1949, in Vandalia, Illinois, to Clarence Roy Jenkins Jr. and Marjorie Belle Jenkins passed away on April 22, 2026, at the age of 77 after a brief battle with leukemia.

While his roots were in the Midwest, Dennis’s heart and life’s work belonged to Arizona. He built his life there, earning a Bachelor of Arts from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from Arizona State University. This academic foundation launched a deep, lifelong commitment to the Casa Grande community.

A pillar of the region, Dennis served for over four decades at Central Arizona College, eventually retiring as the College President. To Dennis, the College was more than just a workplace; it was the heartbeat of the community, providing vital access to higher education for local youth. He was a leader who guided others with quiet generosity, always more concerned with the progress of his neighbors and the success of his students than his own accolades.

Dennis was a devoted husband to his wife, Christina “Chrissie” Jenkins, to whom he was married for 36 wonderful years. He was a proud and deeply devoted father to his five children, finding immense pride in their lives and accomplishments.

Dennis was preceded in death by his wife, Chrissie Jenkins; his son, Jon Jenkins; his brother Joe Jenkins; and his father, Clarence Jenkins Jr. He is survived by his mother, Marjorie Jenkins; his children, Matthew Jenkins, Bryan Jenkins, Ryan Jenkins, and Krystal Frost; his brothers, Al Jenkins and Paul Jenkins; and his sisters, Kay Ross and Rhonda Wilkerson.

In retirement, Dennis could almost always be found on the golf course, perfecting his game several days a week. He also cherished traveling the world, particularly through cruises, where he delighted in discovering local cuisines and sampling regional beers. Above all, he was a generous, loving man who found his greatest joy in the presence of his family, who cared for him deeply until the very end.

Services for Dennis will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Casa Grande Mountain View Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. with a reception to follow at Memorial Gardens Reception Hall.