Good evening everyone,
Johnathan David Jenkins was my brother and still is. He was born on Pearl Harbor day in 1973.
After having been given two younger sisters I was elated to know that I now would have another guy in the family to balance the table even though I would have to wait a while for him to be old enough to help me battle the enemy (my sisters). Sorry guys but that’s how it was then. Little did I know that battle would be over soon enough.
I know most of you know him as Johnathan but he was always either John-John or just John to me. He didn’t start the Johnathan thing until much later and I think he only asked me to refer to him as Johnathan so he could sound cool when we were out carousing,
Even though he asked me to call him Johnathan, I never did. I made it a point to keep calling him John. I did it just to play with him and he always would growl at me and say,,, “man,, I told you to call me Johnathan!”
I think it was his idea of a way to sound cool to the girls but he didn’t need that. All he needed was his “New Kids on the Block” t-shirt. I have evidence to support this. I’ll send it to you Gretchen.
When I graduated High School in 1984, John was 10 and just starting to be interesting. I was 18 and was firmly convinced of my own infallibility and had a sense of adventure that led me out of the house to go get into tons of trouble. I ended up leaving the city of Houston shortly afterwards and would not return to live there until 1991 when I had to return due to medical reasons.
I had to move back in with my parents to recover from my surgery and thought the world was ending because I was once-again dependent on them. Little did I know that I had a little brother who had grown up while I was away and I was given the opportunity to get to know the man he was becoming.
At 17 he was already more popular with the ladies than I had been, was cooler that I thought I was at that age and was just a really great guy with a classic sense of humor. He could dish it out as easily and quickly as he could take it so we naturally became the closest of brothers. It was the shining gift my illness gave me and I don’t regret a day of it.
I got to really know my brother and man, did we have a lot of fun and we made the most of a lot of opportunities to show just how stupid we could be from time to time. For instance, I remember my ignoring my brother’s advice about going swimming in the ocean with the keys to a locked car in my shorts. Imagine my surprise when guess what? They weren’t in my pocket anymore. Thank god I had a smarter younger sister named Jennifer who was willing to drive down to Galveston (that’s about 100 miles, by the way) just to bring me a key. Remember that Jenn?
I won’t mention any of John’s screw ups because he is with God now and maybe he will stop me from drying my hair with my feet in a puddle of water just to laugh his butt off when he sees me in Heaven.
We used to pick on John from time to time. Our friends Dallas Baker, Danny Yee and a cast of several used to play tricks on each other because that’s just what we did. We never held a grudge and as quickly as we could be angered, we could be calmed by each other’s presence and friendship just as quickly.
We used to play pool together for hours at a time. We paid so much money in table fees and drinks we could probably have opened up our own business but we weren’t in it for the profit, we were in it for the fun and I can still see him lining up a shot only to have me move the ball right as he cued on it. Needless to say, he was a much better player than I am or was. I will never be able to play a game of pool without thinking of him.
Me and John’s friend Dallas Baker got in touch with me yesterday and wrote this:
From Dallas Baker:
“Of course, nothing can be said to express how much you and John have meant to me over the years. Even though we have gone our separate ways, I lost a brother too.
I still think back to the days and nights we all spent together getting into all kinds of trouble. I remember a couple of "orphan Thanksgivings" -- both at your parents' house and later, at Jerry's, hanging out and playing cards or watching Jekyl & Hyde Together Again. John used to look at us like we were a couple of idiots when we quoted that movie, but we couldn't stop.
Remember your mom telling us to can the "gozangas, baby!" yelling and laughing, because the turkey was coming out? Remember reprising our roles at Jerry's many years later and getting similar reactions from people there -- including a sideways glance or two from John?
Little did I know it at the time, but those were some of the best times of my life. That's the nature of stuff like that.
I hope it concerns you as much as it does me to know that John was the stable one of our bunch. He took our drunken hazing with style, which is remarkable, because it was relentless.
Remember the time I slipped him Kally's ID (instead of mine) to try to get him into some bar on Richmond Avenue? He actually showed it to the doorman to try to get in. I think he stopped talking to me for about four days...until it was time to go to the bar again and he needed my ID, that Crafty bastard.
It's nice to see he was living a good life in the end. He, more than any of us deserved the happiness and fulfillment he found. I think his message to us now, as it was years ago, is to live well and not take anything for granted. I wish nothing less for you and your family. I love all you guys.”
John and I lived together for almost 4 years. We had a townhouse for almost 3 years together and it was a custom built bachelor pad…. Except for John’s room which only got cleaned out when he moved out. The fact that his and Gretchen’s home was so immaculate is a testament to the absolute change in John that she brought to his life.
I swear to God,, that boy never had a clean room before her.
Scott Clarke is my wife Laura’s brother. He had an interesting comment after reading that John and Gretchen had two Great Danes.
Scott wrote this:
“It’s funny how Chuck ended up with Pomeranians and Jonathan had Great Danes. Two opposite ends of the spectrum.”
Not quite sure how to take what he’s inferring there.
John and I love war movies. We get that from our Dad. One quote always stuck with me when I think of John and Gretchen.
In the war series Band of Brothers,, the captain is talking of his best friend and his life after the war. He went from woman to woman and job to job until he found the right one and then everything just clicked.
He found happiness and purpose with the right woman. John found that with Gretchen.
Sandra Madrid was John’s best friend in his Senior year in High School. She wrote me a wonderful email and I would like to read part of it here for you:
Sandra writes:
“I recall speaking to John around the time that he began dating Gretchen. He told me that he started seeing someone and he thought she was pretty special. Not his usual "type", and that was a very good thing. He wanted to impress her by simply being the best gentleman he knew to be. He wanted to always ensure that he was respectful to Gretchen's daughter. I was so happy for him. When I heard they were planning to marry, I was so proud!!
Quite simply, I believe that Johnathan was someone who wanted to do the right thing because it WAS the right thing. He expected the same from those who were lucky enough to be close to him. I always respected him for that.
I miss him immensely. Know that my heart is with each of you in this very tough time. Please call me whenever you like. I'm here. Pass my number along to your family as well with the same message. I always felt welcomed by the Jenkins clan, and I hope that I can be a source of support for you. I love you all more than you know.”
John loved Gretchen more than he had ever loved anyone before. I didn’t need to be here to know that. I knew he was finally TRULY happy. John finally found his match and I know Gretchen found hers. I could hear it in his voice when I talked to him. I truly wish I could have met Gretchen sooner and under better circumstances but I can see in her just what John loves. He finally found someone who could call him on his B.S. and do it with love,, just like my wife Laura.
(Starting to see any similarities here, people???)
He loved Kaelyn as well. I knew he was close with her but I didn’t know just how close he was. Kaelyn showed Johnathan just what it meant to be a father. She showed him just how easily a little girl could wrap you around her little finger and I think they were peas in a pod. I am truly sorry for her loss because I know he was not just a father to her but a great friend and role model. He loved being a father for her.
Kaelyn, he simply adored you. I am soo sorry for your loss.
I hear that John looked up to me. I can only hope that in his eyes I lived up to that honor. I have a hard time imagining a world without him.
Johnathan David Jenkins was my brother and still is. I haven’t lost him and neither have you. He is with all of us now and will be forever. All you have to do to is listen to your feelings and heart and you will know he is with you just as surely as I know that right now.
I miss you John,,
Thank you all.
Chuck Jenkins
281-857-7835
Good evening everyone,
Johnathan David Jenkins was my brother and still is. He was born on Pearl Harbor day in 1973.
After having been given two younger sisters I was elated to know that I now would have another guy in the family to balance the table even though I would have to wait a while for him to be old enough to help me battle the enemy (my sisters). Sorry guys but that’s how it was then. Little did I know that battle would be over soon enough.
I know most of you know him as Johnathan but he was always either John-John or just John to me. He didn’t start the Johnathan thing until much later and I think he only asked me to refer to him as Johnathan so he could sound cool when we were out carousing,
Even though he asked... READ MORE →
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February 26, 2013