TRUMAN — Genevieve Jennings died peacefully Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, at the home of her daughter, Pege, in Morehead City, N.C. There will be no funeral, but a memorial service will be held in the spring.

Genevieve D. (Gustafson) Jennings was born Sept. 22, 1926, in Kasota, Minn., to Edwin Gustafson and Kate Ellen (Kern) Gustafson. Her family lived in Sherburn, Minn., and in other places where her father found jobs during the Great Depression. She lived with Mamie and Harvey Winch in rural Truman and, for her last two years of high school, she lived with Dr. Herbert Kanning and his family in Truman.

While attending Truman High School, she met the love of her life, David Jennings, and they graduated together in 1944. Following high school, she attended nurse’s training at Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, as part of the federal Cadet Nurse Corps.

In 1946, when David returned from service in the U.S. Marine Corps, they married and made their home in Truman, Minn. For 43 years, she worked at the Truman Clinic for Dr.’s Medlin, Jesse and M.J. Lester. She was also a partner in her husband’s business.

She was a member of the Truman Church of Christ where she held leadership positions, the Truman American Legion Auxiliary (President), the Columbia Chapter #59 of the Order of the Easter Star (Worthy Matron), the Hospice Board, BES sorority, Truman Community Chest Fund Drive.

She was also an AFS parent, the State Chapter Mother for MN FHA, a MN Merit Mother, the Outstanding Senior Citizen (1997).

She is survived by her daughter Pege, (Ken Bobbitt, Jr.) of Morehead City, N.C.; her sons, David (Susan) of Savage, Minn., and Tom (Debbie) of Ocean Beach, Wash.; her grandchildren, Heather Jennings, Sarah Atkinson (Pete), and John Jennings (Sybil); and eight great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David Jennings; her parents, Ed and Katie Gustafson; and her sister, Amber Gustafson.

Those who know her remember her as the ultimate encourager and listener. Since WWII, she has written hundreds of letters to soldiers, friends, family members, patients, community members, politicos and a raft of others to encourage them to be strong, feel loved and do the right thing. Often there were pictures, news articles or small gifts and people who got them felt her love and strength in times of joy and sorrow.

Memorials can be made to the Truman Church of Christ or to Good News Productions International at P.O. Box 222, Joplin, MO 64802.

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