Mearl James Jennings

Mearl James Jennings, 86, of Moline, Illinois, entered eternity on July 20, 2022 while under the care of Unity Point Trinity Hospital in Bettendorf, Iowa. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, August 1, 2022 at 10:30, St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tipton, Msgr. Francis Henricksen, officiating. Burial and final rites will conclude at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, July 31, 2022 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Fry Funeral Home in Tipton. A general memorial fund has been established in his memory and cards and memorials may be sent c/o Fry Funeral Home, PO Box 30, Tipton, Iowa 52772. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com. Mearl, son of James Mearl and Bernice May (Christiansen) Jennings, was born on Monday, March 9, 1936 in Tipton, IA. After High School, he graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree. On September 5, 1959, Mearl married the love of his life, Miss Carol Ann Jedlicka, in Mechanicsville, IA.  Mearl was employed as a Product Engineer with John Deere Harvester Works designing combines until his retirement in 1987. After retirement he continued as a consultant with John Deere. Mearl loved his family and always had a ready smile. He shared his love of the outdoors with his family enjoying fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada and hunting trips to Wyoming. All the many family pets adored Mearl. He was an excellent problem-solver and many were known to seek him out for advice on a wide range of topics. Mearl is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters, Patti (Bryan) Forbes of Mahomet, IL, Pam (Ed) Elkin of Altoona, IA and Sue (Tom) McGuinty of Tipton, IA; son, Jim (Karen) Jennings of Port Byron, IL; sister, Frances Rubenstein of Rochester Hills, MI; sisters-in-law, Dolores Timmerman of Tipton and Rita Sissel of Tipton, IA; grandchildren, Sarah (Nick) Budden, Evan Forbes, Hannah (Derek) Lyons, Eddie (Stephanie) Elkin, Ethan (Jennifer) Elkin, Justin (Janelle) McGuinty, Christine (Brian Cashion) McGuinty, Grace Jennings, Cole Jennings, Caleb Jennings; and great-grandchildren, Audrey, Carter, Fisher, Finnick, Ryder, and Isabel. Mearl was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Howard Jennings.