Roger A. Jennings

Roger Allen Jennings, 86, of Forest City, died Wednesday March 27, 2019 at MercyOne Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M., Monday, April 1, 2019 at the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church, 2391 330th St., Forest City, Iowa with Rev. Robert Snitzer officiating.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 6:00 P.M., Sunday, March 31, 2019 at the Cataldo Schott Funeral Chapel, 505 North Clark St., Forest City, Iowa and also one hour prior to service at the church on Monday.

Burial will be held in the Pilot Knob Lutheran Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church.

Roger was born January 19, 1933 to Raymond Sr. and Lena (Kruse) Jennings on a farm in Barton Township near Northwood. He was baptized and confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church. Roger attended country school in Worth county until he entered Hanlontown High School where he graduated in 1951.

It was in high school where Roger met the love of his life. He was united in marriage to Marian Peterson on August 25, 1951. Roger and Marian were always together. If you saw one of them, the other one was almost always there. They celebrated 67 years of marriage last August.

Roger worked for the Hanlontown Elevator until he and Marian moved to a farm west of Fertile in 1953. This became their lifelong home, where they raised their three children and continued to live together throughout their retirement.

He loved to farm and raise livestock, especially cattle. It was his passion for cattle that led him and his brother, Ralph, to purchase the Cow Palace Sale Barn in Forest City in 1971. For over 20 years, the "The Jennings Brothers" Cow Palace was a thriving business in Forest City and a main meeting place for area farmers. In addition, Roger and his brothers, Ralph and Raymond Jr., owned and operated Jennings Brothers Auctioneering.

After retirement from the sale barn, Roger continued to raise cattle on the farm, but he also developed a love for gardening. He and Marian spent countless hours tending to, weeding, and maintaining beautiful flower gardens at their home that they enjoyed throughout their retirement years. Roger loved to work, however, he really got a big smile and that special twinkle in his eye when he was spending time with his grandchildren. He adored them and made it a priority to see and spend time with them.

Roger served on various boards throughout the years, including the Hanlontown Elevator Board, the Board of Directors for Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan, and the Pilot Knob Lutheran Church Council.

Roger is survived by his wife, Marian, of Hanlontown; children, Matthew (Kim) Jennings of Hanlontown, Tim (Stephanie) Jennings of Hanlontown, Lorelei (Matt) Olson of Fertile; grandchildren, Sarah (Jim) Masterson of Duluth, MN, Tyler Johnson of Pomona, CA, Courtney (Keaton) Schauermann of Forest City, Paige Jennings of Rudd, Spencer, Lewis, Elijah Olson of Fertile; four great grandchildren, Briley, Adley, Emerson, and Wells; sisters-in-law, Muriel Bergan of Hanlontown, JoAnn Peterson of Kensett, and Lois Jennings of Clear Lake; many nieces and nephews.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Raymond Jennings Jr. and Ralph Jennings; mother and father-in-law, Roy and Gail Peterson; brothers-in-law, Arden Bergan and Marvin Peterson.