John Clayton Jenkins, 86, died peacefully at home in rural Windom, Kansas on August 10, 2020.  He was born on February 21, 1934 in Hutchinson, Kansas to John Allison and Verna Aurita ( Tope) Jenkins.  He had many fond memories of his childhood in Wellington, Kansas where he attended grade school, and later Hutchinson, Kansas where he graduated high school.  However, the most important thing about Hutchinson was that it was there that he met Barbara Jean Giesel while he was home on leave from the Air Force.  John and Barbara were married in Tacoma, Washington on June 26, 1955.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara Jenkins; their daughter, Marce' Lorenzen of Raleigh, North Carolina; their son, John C. Jenkins, Jr. ( JJ) of Loveland, Colorado; son Jeffrey Jenkins and wife, Darla of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and four grandchildren, Nathan Jenkins of Lawrence, Kansas, Stephen Jenkins and wife Madison of Los Lunas, New Mexico, Timothy Jenkins of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Sarah Jenkins of Las Cruces, New Mexico.  He is also survived by three nephews Phillip, Arnie, and Richard Corkins, and a niece Debbie Back.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and three sisters, Jacinda Mae ( Jo) Davis, Doris " Jeanne" Corkins and Shirley Jenkins.

John retired from the military as a chief warrant officer ( CW3) after serving thirteen years in the US Air Force and another seven in the US Army.  He frequently mused about having joined the Air Force to become a pilot, but that he was hand picked for military intelligence long before he knew what was happening.  However, being 6 foot 5.5 inches tall, his family never really understood how he thought he would fit into a 1950's era cockpit.  Despite not becoming a pilot, John excelled at his job as a cryptographer and intelligence analyst- code braking came naturally to him.    Upon retirement, John attended McPherson College where he studied philosophy and religion.   After taking all the courses he cared about, he chose to build a house from scratch without the aid of power tools.  With help from his two sons, John built the home he and Barbara lived in for the past 40 years.  It was on this property in rural Kansas that John enjoyed observing nature, either from the comfort of his gazebo or a swing he hung in a large cottonwood tree.  In addition to watching deer and turkey wander through the yard, john also enjoyed playing games, working puzzles, and watching his beloved KU Jayhawks play basketball.

He attended the Little River First United Methodist Church.  Memorials can be given to Little River United Methodist Church or Salina Rescue Mission, or a place of your choice.  There will be a private memorial service at a later date, when the family will plant a tree in his memory.