Obituary – Patrick B. Jenkins

Patrick Breson Jenkins was born July 26, 1962, in Bluffton, Ind. He died in Texas County, Mo., on September 12, 2026. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, five children, 20 grandchildren, his loving kid-sisters, his big brother, and their dad.

Pat was a devoted husband and a loving father whose curiosity never diminished. He possessed a constant desire to know more, learn more, and try something new. Difficulty did not discourage him; often, the harder something was, the more determined he became to master it. He had the remarkable ability to see a completed project in his mind before the work had begun, to understand the steps required to get there, and then to bring that vision into reality; and he did it the right way. Over the course of his life, the range of things he learned and accomplished was extraordinary. He was our family surgeon when someone needed patching up and even delivered babies. He owned multiple businesses, he was an exceptional millwright, a gunsmith, a farmer, a mechanic, a machinist, and a teacher. He possessed an incredible aptitude for technology and could often understand new tools and systems simply by working with them. Much of what he knew, he taught himself. He was self-educated, self-made, and self-motivated, driven by an enduring desire to become the best he could be at whatever he put his hands to.

Dad was the most resourceful and capable man I ever knew. He seemed to know enough about nearly everything to offer sound advice, and if he did not know how to do something, there was no doubt that he could figure it out. He possessed a rare ability to accomplish almost anything he set his mind to. Whatever he built, repaired, or created was marked by his high standards. He refused to compromise the quality of the work of his hands for the sake of speed, convenience, or profit. If something was worth doing, he believed it was worth doing right.

Dad was industrious, confident, unyielding, genuine, and relentlessly honest. He was a perfectionist who possessed both unusual intelligence and the confidence to put it to use. He had little patience for nonsense and little interest in pretending to be anything other than exactly who he was. He thought deeply, spoke plainly, and approached problems with the mind of an expert. He had a huge imagination and was a visionary. He was wise, extraordinarily capable, and hilariously funny. He was a man’s man in the old-fashioned sense: strong, independent, skilled with his hands, confident in his convictions, and determined to master whatever was placed before him. And, of course, he had an excellent beard.

Dad was a man of deep faith and even deeper convictions. He did not give his admiration or respect lightly, which made earning it especially meaningful. He was a force of nature: determined, capable, independent, and seemingly undaunted by the size of the task at hand. He was a jack of all trades and, remarkably, a master of many of them. He was the kind of man who could shoulder tremendous burdens for others without complaint, yet absolutely refused to become a burden himself. He was, simply, a good man whose strength was measured not just by what he could endure, but by what he was willing to carry for others.

As his children grew into adulthood, Dad grew too. Over the years, he became increasingly generous, kind, and engaged with his family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. His willingness to give his time, abilities, and resources to meet the needs of the people he cared about continued to deepen until the end of his life. Beneath his strength and seriousness was also a remarkably quick wit. He was funny, often at his own expense, and could turn an ordinary moment into something memorable. Time spent with Dad was, one way or another, something to treasure.

Dad gave everything he had to whatever he did, and he expected the same commitment from those around him. He worked hard, pursued his ambitions relentlessly, and instilled that same work ethic and determination in his children. Failure could frustrate him, but it could not defeat him. No matter how many times an idea failed, a project went wrong, or an ambition proved more difficult than he expected, he kept trying. He taught his children, both by instruction and example, that worthwhile things demanded effort and that setbacks were not a reason to quit.

He was deeply grateful for those who were praying for him, and for all those who gave their time, energy, and resources to care for him and his dear wife. His big brother was his hero, his children inspired him, his bride was his greatest admirer, and those who knew him will never be the same without him. His hope was in God, and he trusted Jesus for the forgiveness of his sins. His ambitions of glory and his endless desire to know more will finally be satisfied in Heaven, where, in the presence of God is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.

Per Pat’s wishes, no public memorial service will take place.