Obituaries

September 20, 1937 to February 21, 2024

ROYAL CENTER - Fafalene “Fluff” Howard Jenkins, 86, of Winamac passed away Wednesday, Feb. 21st, at Pulaski Healthcare Center.

She was born Sept. 20, 1937 to the late Homer and Edna Mae Howard. On April 29, 1972 she married William T. Jenkins. He preceded her in death on Jan. 12, 2024.

Fluff Jenkins

Survivors include her children Susan (Jeff) Foust of Rochester, Mark (Diane) Kolish of Winamac, daughter-in-law, Linda Kolish of Winamac, Melissa (Josh) Behny of Fishers; sister Iva Jean Minix, brother Roger (Phyllis) Howard, sister Sharon (Jim) Baker, sister-in-law Donna Howard; grandchildren Chad (Monica) Kolish of Winamac, Beth Kolish of Winamac, Ryan (Lindsey) Kolish of Winamac, Austin (Emily) Foust of Rochester, Matthew (Laura) Kolish of Winamac, Jordan (Jess Bank) Kolish of Winamac, Kaitlin Foust of South Bend, Finian Behny of Fishers and Cameron Behny of Fishers; and great-grandchildren Jackson, Sawyer, Charlotte, Cale and Ava Kolish and Zander, Rowan and Cason Foust. 

She was preceded in death by sons William Kolish and Kevin Kolish, grandson Liam Behny, brothers Clifton Howard, Fred Howard and Justin Howard, sisters Joyce Sallee, Carolyn Minix, and Mandy Howard. 

Mrs. Jenkins had a love for adventure. As a young girl, she took trips to Chicago on the train by herself, and as an adult she traveled across Europe with the Sounds of Hope Mission. She often went to Fanfare for concerts, sporting events to watch her beloved Chicago Cubs and interesting landmarks across the U.S. She was a voracious reader and a closet romantic. She could be found curled up in a chair at any hour of the day reading a romance novel, watching the Hallmark Channel or Days of our Lives or blasting Newsmax. She was always in motion. She loved traveling, shopping and socializing. She enjoyed helping out where she could and volunteered with many organizations over the years. Recently she could be found at the front desk at the hospital signing people in. She even volunteered while wintering in Lake Placid, Fla. at the Salvation Army and Manna Mission. The most important thing to Fluff was her family. She loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with single-minded devotion. She was your fiercest supporter, your loudest cheerleader, your warm embrace, the squeeze on the arm when you needed it. She tried to make every event and if she couldn’t, she listened on the radio or wanted to see pictures. She was a baked good or an attentive ear over a sacred kitchen table, the miracle worker with laundry, the costume maker and the “patcher of all things holey.” She was a treasure and will be treasured always.

A celebration of life service will be at 11a.m., Saturday, March 9 at Celebration Station (opera house) Winamac, with Pastor Heath Hyatt officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.

Memorial donations may be made to Pulaski Memorial Hospital Auxiliary or to a charity of the donor’s choice.  

Mrs. Jenkin’s online guestbook is available and condolences can be shared with the family at ransfuneralhomes.com. Rans Funeral Homes & Crematory, Royal Center, has been entrusted with arrangements.