Dixie Lee Jennings

Dixie Jennings, 92 of Urbandale, Iowa received her wings on Friday, June 26. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Ernst Funeral Home, 80 NE Dartmoor Drive, Waukee, Iowa. Service time and date is pending. Please check back later.

Dixie was born April 28, 1934 in Lee Township, Madison County, Iowa, the daughter of Robert and Mary Allen. Dixie lived in Dallas County, Iowa most of her life, growing up in the Booneville area, raising her family in Van Meter, and enjoying her empty nest, and retirement years in De Soto and at Deerfield in Urbandale.

She was a dedicated career woman, giving 36 years to Preferred Risk/Guide One Insurance Company in West Des Moines. Dixie was a social butterfly, she loved to dance, play cards, and host parties. She liked to fish and hunt for morel mushrooms. She liked to golf and was a member of the Adel Hillcrest Golf and County Club. She was on several bowling leagues in her lifetime, including Wii Bowling at Deerfield. Everyone new when Dixie was around because of her infectious laugh. But most of all Dixie loved family time. Big celebrations with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. The more the merrier.

Dixie was proceeded in death by her husbands, Eugene Meldrem (1990), and Donald Jennings (2015). A daughter, Connie and her husband Dick Thompson. A grandson, Devon Slycord, her parents, her siblings and their spouses, Leona & Bill Neill, Ron and Dee Allen, and Rick Allen.

Dixie leaves behind to cherish her memories and preserve her legacy, a Daughter, Denise (Dan) Forret of Adel, a son Terrell (Vernone) Meldrem of Minnetonka, MN, Step-daughters, Vickey (Mark) Benshoof of Wellsburg, Tawnia (Dennis) Olson of Dexter, Donette (Tad) Stanley of Earlham, 21 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the nurses, caregivers and staff at Deerfield, Immanuel Retirement Community, and Suncrest Hospice for their care and compassion which made such a difference in Dixie’s quality of life.

Memorial contributions will be given to Suncrest Hospice, Des Moines or UI Cancer Research.

Ernst Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Waukee has been entrusted with Dixie's final arrangements.