Obituary of Veldene Pennell Jerrels

Veldene Pennell Jerrels entered this life on December 16, 1926, to George and Ethel Dutton, being the youngest of nine children. She went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 1:10 a.m. with loved ones by her side, being at the time of her home going 92 years, 3 months, and 14 days old.
She grew up in the Rock Creek area and lived there most of her 92 years. Rock Creek is where she met Thurman “Jarg” Pennell. They married on June 12, 1943 and this union was blessed with three sons: Larry Dean, Terry Michael, and Stanley Kent.
She was a devoted wife and mother and her life became more blessed and full when she heard little voices call her Grandma and Gaggy. Jennifer, Lisa, Robert, and Lindsay were her pride and joy, which only grew with the arrival of great-grandkids, Austin and Katie. Aside from being a Christian, nothing delights her heart like her children and grandchildren.
She and Jarg made their home on Rock Creek and shared the ups and downs of life for almost 48 years until Jarg’s passing on February 16th, 1990.
She became a Christian at a young age and was a member of Rock Creek Church. She held different positions at the church. Two of her most remembered positions are playing the piano and being the Chicken and Dumplings and Red Velvet cake provider for church dinners! Rock Creek Church held a very special place in her heart and was a huge part of her life.
Veldene loved to quilt, fish, squirrel hunt, bake, cook for her family, and anyone else who entered her doors. She loved to ride Harley Davidsons. Later years, she loved feeding and watching her birds, and baking pies and cakes and taking to people. She always loved home and visiting with family and friends.
She worked at many different jobs. First of those was being a stay-at-home mom to her three boys. She worked as a janitor, cleaning churches, assistant carpenter, and election judge. She was the first chore housekeeper for the Golden Circle and worked that position until she got a job in the Central Office doing scheduling for the Chore Housekeeping program and traveling to homes to check on people. She retired after 22 years of service to the Golden Circle.
She received a call one day that forever changed her life. Esdon Jerrels was on the other end of that call asking her out to dinner. The two soon became inseparable, and he treated her like a queen! They married on July 3, 1995, and at that moment her heart and family was blessed with more children to love. Esdon’s children, Ramona, Joe, Bill, and Bob became her kids and she loved them and their family dearly. She and Esdon enjoyed 4 months of marriage before Esdon had a life changing stroke, but that did not change the love and devotion they shared and she lovingly helped take care of him the rest of his life.
She is survived by her son, Stanley (Nancy) Pennell of Cave-In-Rock, Illinois; grandchildren, Lindsay Dawn Pennell of Elizabethtown, Illinois, Robert (Jennifer) Pennell of Marion, Illinois, Lisa Rice of Bladenboro, North Carolina, and Jennifer Walters of North Carolina; great -grandchildren, Austin Walters of North Carolina and Katie Pennell of Marion, Illinois; daughter-in-law, Janice Pennell of Mount Carmel, Illinois, sister, Ruth Riley of Eldorado, Illinois; step-sons, Joe (Sandy) Jerrels and family, Bill (Elaine) Jerrels and family, Bob (Debbie) Jerrels and family; step-daughter, Ramona (John) Douglas and family; brothers-in-law, Glen “Taterhead” Pennell; Troy (Wanda) Pennell, and Roy (Thelma) Pennell; sisters-in -law, Cleo Bucklew, Bonnie Rose, and Marlene (Randall) Dutton; and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.
Those preceding in her death are her parents, George and Ethel Dutton; husband, Thurman “Jarg” Pennell; sons:, Larry Dean Pennell and Terry Michael Pennell; second husband, Esdon Jerrels; granddaughter, Rebeccah Jerrels; brothers, Enoch Dutton, Loy Dutton, Kenneth Dutton, Raymond Dutton, and Hansel Dutton; sisters, Rachel Dutton and Beulah Foster; sister-in-law, Mary Pennell; and brothers-in-law, Roger Bucklew and Glen Rose.
Veldene was dearly loved and will be sadly missed by all who knew her. She left a legacy almost impossible to duplicate. Heaven is much brighter today than it was, because she was an angel even while here. Whether you called her Mother, Mom, Grandma, Gaggy, Veldene, Dean, or Aunt Dean, she has touched and blessed our lives and we are all better for having known her. Until we meet again, we love you.
Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at Rock Creek Church with interment in Adams Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Hardin County Funeral Service (Cox Chapel) in Rosiclare, IL.