Jacquelyn R. Jenkin

Jacquelyn R. “Jacquie” Jenkin, 87, longtime resident of rural Brandon, passed away February 9, 2021 at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge in Madison, WI.

Jacquie was born April 14, 1933 to Mary (McRae) and Orville Swisher in Chippewa Falls, WI. The family later moved to Waupun where Jacquie attended Waupun area schools until she graduated in 1951. After high school she attended both the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later Oshkosh State Teacher’s College (now University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh). On December 17, 1955 she married Neal Jenkin in Waupun.

Following their marriage, Jacquie got a job teaching at the one-room Holmes School in the Town of Metomen. She soon left formal teaching to take up farming and homemaking full-time where, alongside her husband, Neal, they raised livestock and cash-cropped until their retirement. Jacquie enjoyed farming, the outdoors and volunteering, whether it was as an art presenter for Ripon Elementary schools or as the ear-trained musical director for the award-winning Spring Valley 4-H club choir and countless other productions. Jacquie greatly enjoyed many activities that involved patience and skill, such as: needlepoint; gardening, and reading dense historical biographies. Above all her interests, Jacquie was a prolific knitter, constantly working on the next, more complex project than the last. Jacquie was passionate about local education issues, and the driving force to bring her family and those of several neighbors to join the Ripon Area School District. She loved her family very much.

Jacquie is survived by her children: Deborah (Ricardo) Blanc of Panama City, Panama, Dr. Brenda Jenkin of Sun Prairie, Bret (Suzanne) Jenkin of Sun Prairie, Nathan (Vanessa) Jenkin of Cincinnati, OH, and Frank (Tracie) Jenkin of Brandon; five grandchildren: Jeremy (Kristen) Sandgren, Hannah Sandgren, Marta Sandgren, Claire Jenkin, and Lauren Jenkin; one great-grandchild: James Sandgren; her sisters: Pat (John) Giebink, Kay (William) Keepers, Bette (Don) Fischer, and her brother Mike (Laurenda) Swisher.

Jacquie was preceded in death by her husband, Neal.


After a private burial service for immediate family, Jacquie will be laid to rest at Forest Mound Cemetery in Waupun.