Austin L Jankens

November 24, 2007

Austin L. Jankens, almost 92 years old, former Findlay resident,passed away peacefully on November 24, 2007, at the Hospice of NW Ohio. The oldest of three children, he was born December 4, 1915, in Bay City, Michigan, where he lived for 53 years. From early childhood Austin had an ear for rhyming words. As a young man he began writing his own poems. To the end of his life, he could recite most of the poems he learned in school and the words to the popular songs and the poems he himself had written. Over his lifetime he wrote at least forty philosophical poems, many ending with a gentle touch of humor. One such poem entitled "To Make a Difference" follows: I will not chafe beneath the burden God has given me Like storm and sunshine all men's lives Know love and misery. Thus will I labor every day to do The best I can To learn to know myself that I may know My fellow man. When the time has come to leave, I hope That by God's grace That men can say with quiet truth He left an empty space. After graduation from high school, he went to Bay City Jr. College while he worked for Consumers Power Company. His job ended when he was drafted in the Army in 1942. He joined the U.S. Infantry, 904th field artillery battalion—part of the 79th Infantry Division. While in the service, he married Marian Manary, a Bay City attorney and municipal judge. Austin's Army stint ended in less than a year, when an examining doctor observed his flat feet and learned Austin could be working at Dow Chemical Company in Midland, Michigan. One week later, Austin was discharged and thereafter began a 41-year career at Dow in R&D. While there Austin was instrumental in developing the stabilization system for clear Saran wrap. After that he became involved in the shrink bundling process for packaging. In all Austin was responsible for five patents at Dow. Following the death of his wife, Austin transferred to the Findlay, Ohio, Dow plant in the fall of 1968. There he met Jill Koehler, and she became his best friend and companion to the end of his life. She moved from Findlay to Toledo in 1977 and in 1988 he followed and they lived side-by-side in a townhouse duplex. He took pleasure and pride in the outdoor decoration of their home and especially loved planting flowers and handling the lawn care. His hobbies had been hunting, raising mink, and the lapidary arts. He had an unending interest in nature and was a good weather predictor. In his later years, he could not kill an animal. He took good care of his cat and fed the squirrels that waited for him at his backdoor. He was determined to maintain good health: faithfully exercising at Bally's, eating nutritionally, taking supplements, avoiding stress, and getting adequate rest. Austin was preceded in death by his brother, Fred, but is survived by his sister Edith Long; his soul mate, Jill Koehler; daughter, Sharon (John) Chamberlain of Magnolia, TX; son, Jeff Jankens of Bay City, MI; two granddaughters, Mindy (Justin) Voag and Shelly (Bill) Bagby; as well as great grandchildren: Lexi and Tanner Voag and Payton and Blake Bagby. Austin chose to be cremated, and his ashes will be interred at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Bay City. A private memorial celebration will be held on December 8 at his favorite place--The Toledo Club. The family is grateful for the exceptional care given Austin at the Hospice of NW Ohio, 30,000 E. River Road, Perrysburg, Ohio 43551, where memorial contributions may be made, or to Lutheran Social Services, 2149 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo, Ohio 43620.