Arlene Ives Jenks

Arlene Leta Ives Jenks, aged 86, died of heart failure on April 5, 2015, in Castle Rock, Colorado. Her funeral will be Wednesday, April 22nd at 10:00 a.m. at the New Hope Presbyterian Church, 3737 New Hope Way, Castle Rock, CO, with Pastor Erik Holm officiating. She will be buried in Delta Jct., AK this summer. Arlene was born November 10, 1928 in Montpelier, Vermont to Paris and Alta (Wade) Ives. She married Robert L. Jenks on June 17, 1950 in Guilford, New York. She lived in Alaska for 57 years, including homesteading with her husband in Delta Jct., AK. For 29 years, she taught elementary school and was a school librarian. She received her Master’s degree in Library Science from Syracuse University and was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. She will be greatly missed, but we take comfort that she died on Easter when we were all especially focused on the atonement and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

She is survived by her daughters, Dianne (Robert) Benitez of Castle Rock, CO; Sylvia (William) Horrocks of Midvale, UT; Patti Jo (Gary) Bohanan of Fairbanks, AK; and Robyn (James) Hess of Idaho Falls, ID; nineteen grandchildren and about 45 great-grandchildren and was known to many of them as “Grandma-Baby” because she had looked too young to have grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Joyce Starr-Cain of Bainbridge, NY; Betty (Al) Slawson of Tucson, AZ; and Martha (Rick) Lavis of Phoenix, AZ; her brother, Albert (Judy) Ives of Bainbridge, NY; numerous nieces and nephews; and her sisters-in-law, Phyllis Ives of Oxford, NY; Dorrice Wallis of Tooele, UT; and Marjorie Anthony of Catskill, NY. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, her parents, and her brother, Arthur Ives.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in Oklahoma City, OK; World Vision in Federal Way, WA; Habitat for Humanity in Americus, GA; the First Presbyterian Churches in Delta Jct., AK, or Pueblo, CO; or the New Hope Presbyterian Church in Castle Rock, CO. For directions or more information about the funeral please contact Dianne Benitez at 813-347-2260 or [email protected]. There will also be a graveside memorial service after the ground has thawed in Delta Jct., AK; for more information or if you want to attend this service, please contact Patti Bohanan at 907-474-3091 or [email protected]. The Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Funeral Home in Castle Rock is providing the services.