George Mentzer

George Edward Mentzer, was born Dec. 23, 1948 at home in Greene County, to Margaret & Bud Mentzer. He attended school in Greene County and finished school in Jefferson.

In 1970, George married Jan Bettis. They had four children—Marcia, Delores, George and Jennifer.

George worked at several different jobs over the years including farming with Jerry Kelley, working on the Milwaukee Railroad for a short time, and Shriver Construction. He also worked for McAtee Tire then the Jefferson Block Plant, where he worked for 34 years until the plant closed. After a year off work, he drove a tanker truck for Neese, when he had his first heart attack and kidney failure.

In 1989 George married Jacqui (Godwin) Forkner at which time the family grew from three children to seven.

George Mentzer died January 2, 2015 at the Greene County Medical Center. He was 66 years of age.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret (McCollum) Leeka and Bud Mentzer; step-father, Charles Leeka; grandparents; a sister, Sharon Kay at birth; a son, George, at birth; a son-in-law, John Simons; and two brothers-in-law, Joe and Jim Godwin.

He is survived by his wife, Jacqui Mentzer of Jefferson; daughters, Marcia Simons, Dodi Nepple and Jennifer Mentzer, all of Carroll; step-children, Danene Pena, Duane Forkner, both of Jefferson, Gary Forkner, of Paton, and Yancey Forkner of Iowa City; brothers and sisters, John (Beverly) Mentzer, of Churdan; Marj Rice (Carl Baker) of West Des Moines; Jerry (Mary Jo) Mentzer of Boone; Janis Runyon, Peggy (Eldon) Cunningham, Mike Mentzer (Shelly Thornton), Don (Pam) Mentzer, all of Jefferson; Bill (Donna) Mentzer of Pasadena, Maryland; and Linda (Pat) Hurley of Jefferson; grandchildren, Erika, Jordan, Elizabeth, Lillian, Austen, Erin, Anthony, Jenora, Olivia, Joshua, Gabby, Brittany, Whyle, Whitney, Travis, Morgan and  Dylan; 4 great grandson; other relatives and friends.

Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home, www.sliningerrossowfuneralhome.com, 515-386-2171.