We didn’t get to travel the world like we wanted but we didn’t need to because we saw the world in each others eyes. And in our eyes, our world is our kids and our family and for that, we are rich with love and to me that’s more than enough❣️💔❣️♥️
Jim born and raised in Clearwater, Florida.
Jim was a simple man who’s faith molded him. He believed working hard and doing your best all the time was the best way to live. As a practicing Catholic, the best way Jim knew how to give back to everyone and his community was to build just about anything. He enjoyed fixing things for everyone, just because he could, leaving a little piece of himself every where he touched. Just about every member of our family and many, many friends has some kind of work he completed to remember him by. Another place worth mentioning is Seminole High School. There he was also known for his talent fixing things and left a lasting impression for his fight and courage in his battle with his illness!
At home, Jim raced with the clock trying to finish all the jobs he felt were important to complete for his family including, home repairs and building things leaving them with everlasting memories every where they look. Jim took care of many the best way he knew how.
Jim is my husband, my best friend and my protector in between the anger, the pain, the fears and the tears. He always made people laugh! He was funny and witty. He never needed to be the center of attention. As he stood among friends or family, he was quite,yet very in tuned. He was, as his kids will tell you, the smartest man they knew without at doubt! Jim was the most courageous, strongest and heroic man. Superman has nothing on Jim as he gave it his all, 💯 %, all of the time! He was called on by many and if you needed him, he would come.
Jim could fix just about anything and he did for so many!!! He always said it like it was, even if it wasn’t always said in the nicest way even with a couple extra curse words along the way. That was also appreciated by him because he always tried to push everyone around him to do their best all of the time, especially Austin, Bailey and Jaden and for that we love him.
Now we have the deepest hole in our hearts that will never be filled. Austin told his dad not to worry, that he will take care of his family even though he doesn't know as much as him and that he will always be there to help his brother, sister and mother because he taught him to be his family’s big protector. Bailey thanked him for teaching him everything he knows and will continue to learn, so he can fill his father’s shoes even though they are big shoes to fill! Jaden tells him she loves him and that she has learned so much from him that our whole family will rely on. She can create and build just like her father. He has taught her so much!
We love Jim and can’t imagine our life with out him but now it is our turn to be strong, courageous and fight through our pain for him and to let him know we will be ok until we see him again in heaven with God and the angels 😢💔
This is how he showed his faith.
Jim was preceded in death by his grandmother, Anges Reinbold and his great grandfather, John Austin Henkel.
Jim is survived by his wife, Dawn; children, Austin, Bailey and Jaden; his parents, Robert J. and Carolyn A. Henkel; mother in law, Carmen DePaola; sister, Jennifer Johnson Henkel; sister in law, Deseray (Steve) Masi, DeAnna (Pete) Donaldson, brother in law, James Whittinghill; nieces and nephews, Hunter, Taylor, Caulin, Dylan, Owen, Ever and Sammy.
Memorial Mass celebrated 11:00 am, Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at St Jerome Catholic Church with livestreaming at: http://stjeromeonline.org
Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home 7950 131st Street N., Seminole, FL 33778 / 727-391-0121
