Okaw O. "Curly" Jennings

Okaw O. “Curly” Jennings, age 85, of Thomson, Illinois, died Sunday, October 14, 2007 at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna, Illinois. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Thomson, Illinois. Burial will be in Spring Lake Cemetery, Savanna. Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., one hour prior to the service at the Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com .

Curly was born February 4, 1922 in Beecher City, Illinois, the son of Golden and Rachel (Lilly) Jennings. He served in the US Army 4th Infantry during WWII, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Curley worked for Chicago Bridge and Iron overseas for many years, where he met his wife, Sheila French. They were married August 4, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1966, they moved to the Riverview area near Thomson. Curley retired as a Field Foreman in 1977.

Family was important to Curly, and he was always there for his children. He was a member of the Thomson American Legion and a Lifetime member of the Savanna Moose Lodge. Curly enjoyed trapping, fishing and hunting after retirement, just like he did when he was a kid.

Curly will be dearly missed by his wife, Sheila of Thomson; three daughters, Sue (Joe) Barber of North Aurora, Illinois, Debra Jennings of Florida and Sandra (Alan) Prins of Atalissa, Iowa; two sons, Steve (Linda) Jennings of Mulberry, Florida and Jon Jennings of Lindenwood, Illinois; eight grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; a great granddaughter; and a step-great grandson. Curly is preceded in death by both parents, three brothers and a sister.