William George Jennings

William G. Jennings passed away peacefully at home in Indianapolis, surrounded with love and family at the age of 88. Bill (BJ) is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 21 years, Josephine-Beck Jennings, his brother Jim (Linda), his 9 children, Lisa, Heather (Chuck), Dawn (Martin), Bill (Becky), Jennifer, Cecile (Dana), Tom (Aimee), Stephanie (Darrin), Scott (Lisa), his 16 Grandchildren Caitleen (Zak), Maureen, Connor, Jack, Diana, Mairead, Sydney, Jake, Liam, Alex (Julia), Kayla, Bridgette, Lucy, Fiona, Andrew and Jojo, his 2 Great Grandchildren Liora and Gavin, His 4 Beck Children Kimberly, Aimee (Tom), Mandy (Derek) and Charlie (Charmaine) and his 4 Beck Grandchildren Lexi, Helena, Hazel and Felix. Additionally, Bill is survived by his two nephews Tim (Julie) and Sean (Lisa) and niece Susan (Dennis).

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 38 years Diane McMahon Jennings, and his parents William and Anna Jennings.

Bill was raised in the South Side of Chicago, primarily Bridgeport, where he attended Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church for his primary education followed by De La Salle High School where he became a Hall of Fame athlete. Football earned him an opportunity to shine on the gridiron for Purdue where he joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and earned his Bachelor's Degree. More importantly, in West Lafayette he met and fell in love with fellow Boilermaker Diane McMahon from Indianapolis and the two were married soon after graduation.

The newlyweds settled in Chicago to start their family and for BJ to start his teaching/coaching career at The Latin School and earn his Master's Degree at Loyola. Academics and football again shined its fortune on Bill Jennings as he was recruited from his second coaching/teaching opportunity at Homewood Flossmoor, Illinois to join the faculty and football staff at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana in 1965.

For 30 years, Bill (Coach) and Diane (DJ) happily devoted themselves to each other and raising their nine children in Rensselaer and to countless Pumas, both athletes and students at Saint Joseph’s College.

Bill Jennings retired as a Hall of Fame coach with the SJC Puma's in 1985 and devoted his spare time to his family, teaching and a few side hustles (such acting and a legendary Driver's Education business). Bill and his surviving brother Jim Jennings completed construction of a cottage on Lake Michigan in 1971 and once his football coaching career ended, he brought Diane Jennings to the shores of Palisades Park Country Club as often as he could. He remained in Rensselaer until his retirement from SJC following 35 years of service.

Bill Jennings fell in love one more time and married Josephine Larosa Beck in 2002. Josephine mercifully rescued Bill from his grief and he moved to Indianapolis to join her for the remainder of his days. BJ & Jo made each other laugh up until his final moments. Family meant everything to BJ, but he didn’t limit his love. If you met BJ, you were a friend. He was a generous, loving, accepting and supportive spouse, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, teacher and friend. He will be dearly missed by all those whose lives he touched.

Services Info- Visitation at Leppert Mortuary (https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/11402283) will be held from 2 PM to 6 PM EST Friday, September 15th. There will be a brief visitation at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 4600 N Illinois St., Indianapolis, IN 46208 on Saturday, September 16th at 10 AM EST immediately followed by 11 AM EST Mass for Bill.

In Lieu of Flowers donations are welcome to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/donate/) or MDS Foundation (https://www.mds-foundation.org/) Additionally, please donate blood at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive. Bill Jennings received transfusions during his final year thanks to the wonderful generosity of volunteers who donated blood.