Leslie Jenks (Les)

“Not just today but a lifetime through, we will always treasure memories of you.”

Les passed away peacefully on 18th February at Cypress Court Nursing Home, aged 96 years.

The beloved husband of the late Winnie, dearest dad of Alan and the late Pauline. Also a cherished father-in-law to Jane and Graham and dearest grandad of Louise, Joe and Sam. Les will be sadly missed but remembered with love and affection by all who knew him.

Leslie was born on 14th September 1922, one of five children. He left school at fourteen and started work in Crewe Railway Works. Les found he enjoyed the work, much better than school and he unltimately became a brilliant Coppersmith and welder. He was always chosen for any new job or experimental work.  When the war started Les went to enlist, but wasn’t allowed to join the armed forces because he was in a “Reserved Occupation” So Les joined the Home Guard and by the end of the war he had risen to the rank of Sergeant. During one of his rare recreation times, Les’s sister Minnie asked him to go the pictures with her friend Winnie as she could not go herself. He agreed and they immediately started courting.

Les and Winnie married on 29th June 1946 on Winnie’s 21st birthday. Three years later Pauline was born, followed by Alan after another two years. In the years after the war, money was scarce but Les worked hard to provide for his family. He even turned down promotion because whilst he was studying he would have been worse off. The family loved Anglesey and spent many holiday there . Pauline left the family home to marry Graham in 1971 but always remained close to her family. Alan stayed at home for a long time, enjoying a bachelor life and used to take Les and Winnie out for day trips in his car, and Shearing holidays with them in Germany and Austria.  Les and Winnie also went on a holiday of a lifetime by flying to Melbourne, Australia to see Winnie’s sister Cis. In 1982 Pauline and Graham’s daughter Louise was born and for many years Winnie and Les would look after her while Pauline and Graham were at work.

In 1995 Alan married Jane and they also presented Winnie and Les with two grandchildren, Joe and Sam. Sadly in 2008 Pauline started to feel unwell,  and the following year she was diagnosed with cancer and tragically died in August 2009.  At the same time Winnie started to show signs of dementia. As Winnie’s condition worsened the family rallied around Les to support him. Les was a very proud man and refused help in the house, he looked after Winnie’s every need until Winnie eventually suffered a stroke. As time passed, Winnie’s condition worsened and when Les was taken ill with severe flu, he reluctantly agreed for his beloved Winnie to go into a care home. The staff at Station House quickly fell in love with this devoted couple, and for Winnie’s 93rd birthday and their 72nd wedding anniversary they put on a special party. Tragically Winnie sufferd another major stroke two months later and was rushed to Leighton Hospital, where she peacefully passed away, in the presence of Les, Graham, Jane and Joe. Sadly Alan and Sam were away in the North East at the time. Les was heartbroken and stopped eating. He was rushed to Leighton Hospital on Christmas Day and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died six weeks later. The end of a remarkable life, an honourable, kind and proud man, dedicated to his wife and family.

His funeral will take place on Monday 11th March at St. Peter’s Church, Crewe at 11.15am, followed by cremation.

Donations in memory of Les will be gratefully received on behalf of MacMillan Nurses.

For any further information regarding Les’ funeral please contact our funeral home on 01270 584447.