Jennie Lee Garner Kallunki's Obituary
Early Years
Jennie Lee Garner Kallunki passed away peacefully on September 19, 2023, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Jennie was born June 9, 1936 in Rolla, Kansas to Henry Garner and Avis Marie Friend. Jennie was the third child in her family and had many fond memories of growing up in Kansas. The family moved to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico when she was still a young child. While there her father passed away and her mother and siblings worked to operate a motel. It was there that she developed her love for work and passion to complete tasks to the minute detail. It is also where she chose to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a decision which formed the core of all of her life choices. Later the family moved to Tucson, Arizona where she graduated from high school as an excellent student and talented musician. She began working as a legal secretary almost immediately after graduation to save money to attend college at BYU, which she did for one year.
Jennie and Tom over the years:
Jennie married John Thomas Kallunki on June 16, 1962 in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple. Tom was an officer in the US Army and their lives were dictated by the demands of his career as they moved from duty station to duty station. They lived in California, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Utah, Nebraska, Indiana and Belgium in the space of 20 years. They were blessed with four children along the way. During that time, Jennie held the family together as a single parent while Tom was on two yearlong tours in Vietnam, time in the Dominican Republic, and a year in South Korea, along with many other periods where he was needed for his duties.
After a long career in the military, Tom was able to land a dream job as the Professor of Military Science at BYU so they moved to Utah County, where they completed the task of raising their children. Jennie was active in her community and church and spent her time serving those around her. She had a relentless work ethic and loved to help in any way that she could. The people of the Salem 6th Ward and Edgemont 9th ward were blessed with her constant assistance in the form of a meal, a hand pitched in, a ride, a friendly ear or a word of encouragement.
Tom and Jennie were called to preside over the Abidjan Ivory Coast mission for the LDS church in 1994. This was a tremendous honor and challenge for them, and Jennie developed a deep and long-lasting love for the missionaries that were serving in Ivory Coast. Tom died in 1997 shortly after their return, but Jennie maintained a close relationship with those young men and called herself their mission mom.
Jennie as a wandering widow:
A few years later Jennie decided that she wanted to experience more of the world and decided to spend a year in China teaching English at Qingdao University. Jennie was an exceptional teacher and learned how deep her impact could be on others as she watched her students learn and grow. Jennie had the remarkable distinction of living at least a year on four continents.
Jennie loved the arts, gardening, staying involved in politics and current events, and BYU sports but Jennie’s greatest joy was her role as a mother and later a grandmother. She put enormous effort into teaching, correcting and guiding every child she could. As the years passed and her body began to fail, her love did not lessen nor did her desire to help others around her. She remained a devoted member of the LDS church and a principled person that brought tremendous comfort and balance to her family. Jennie’s can-do attitude and her open arms to embrace all who needed it will be missed by all who had the privilege to know her. She stands ready to reunite with her love, Tom, and be heaven’s most dedicated angel.
The Tom and Jennie collection:
Jennie is pre-deceased by her parents, her siblings, June Padgett, John Garner and James Garner, and husband. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Matt Kallunki (Lisa), Ann Marie Gibson (Ken) all of Orem, Utah, Josh Kallunki (Debbie) of Provo, Utah, and the Honorable Jared Kallunki (Tiesha) of Roswell, New MexIco, and Tom’s daughter Tomi Jacobs Ziobro (Jim) of Wellfleet, Massachusetts. She is also survived by her 12 deeply loved grandchildren, Ciara Adams (Bruce), Goose Kallunki (Cyla), Haeden Torrens (Codie), Alisha Kallunki (Mandy), Miranda Torrens (Kyle), Austin Kallunki (Haili), Jace Torrens (Charice), Autumn Ulibarri (Terrence), Summer, Detroit, Joaquin and Cedric Kallunki. She is also survived by several beloved nephews and nieces, Eric Habener, Beau Mathis, Erica Torppa, Steven, Mike, David and Bryan Padgett, Jody Sonaterre, J.D. and Maya Garner. She will also be cherished by her four great-grandchildren, Chloe Torrens, Finnegan Adams, Avah and Mac Kallunki as well as many dear friends.
Funeral Services will be held Monday. September 25, 2023 at 11:00 am, 4300 North Canyon Road. Graveside Services will be on Tuesday, September 26, 2023 at 10:00 am, Utah Veteran Memorial Park, Bluffdale, Utah
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