Jay Frank Jennings

Jay was born on March 16, 1963, and went to his Heavenly home on November 11, 2022, at age 59. He was Baptized March 31, 1963, at Peace Lutheran Church, Texas City, and was Confirmed in his faith May 2, 1976, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Austin. Jay attended Redeemer Lutheran School from K-6th grade, making many life-long close friends in his class. He graduated from Anderson H.S. in 1981. Jay was an energetic, keen, and mischievous child. His deep core values were formed by the strong bonds with his Jennings, Gunn, and Redeemer families.

In 1983, he applied to the Austin Fire Department on a whim, but found his life calling as a public servant and realized this path was directed by the Lord. Jay proudly served AFD for over 34 years. During his career, he was personally credited with saving 3 lives, became highly specialized in aircraft firefighting, created training materials, was a guest instructor at A&M Fire School, wrote specs on multiple fire trucks, competed in the International FF Olympics, and was a master of “worming” pranks. He spent over half of his career at ABIA as Captain at the airport fire station. We never tired of hearing him tell great stories about the fire station and the alarm calls.

In 1979, Jay met Connie Ferris in the youth group at Redeemer. During their teen years they became the loves of each other’s lives, and were married May 18, 1985, only after his job was secure and he had bought them a home. Jay and Connie were blessed with two children: Joshua Michael in 1992 and Jessica Marie in 1994. Jay’s children became the ultimate joy in his life. He built their life skills by including them on many of his projects, he built their relationships by participating in their hobbies, sports, and passions, and he built their faith by his example and dedication to the Lord. He loved planning wonderful family trips, the best of which were to 29 National Parks.

Jay was passionate about anything he decided to put his mind to, and expected nothing less of himself than a job done right, to do his very best. In his younger years his focus was on basketball, volleyball, and ping pong. In his midlife he honed his skills as an all around handyman, taking on almost every repair or home improvement project himself. In his last 25 years his passion became custom carpentry woodworking. Jay loved the challenge of custom furniture, making something more functional, or repairing instead of replacing. He built for family, friends, church, and charity.

Always the public servant, Jay also built over 100 handicap ramps through Texas Ramp Project for the disabled who cannot afford them. After retiring, he took over management of the materials warehouse for Austin and led multiple volunteer ramp builds each month. Jay was always ready to lend a helping hand. He was able to combine his first responder, handyman and carpentry skills by volunteering for countless disaster response and mission trip teams. He was especially proud when his children worked alongside him.

Jay was an incredibly smooth partner on the dance floor and loved perfecting a new complex lead. He and Connie shared a great love for old Western Swing music and historic dance halls, two-stepping and waltzing all across Texas. Over 5 years they logged dancing in 54 different historic halls, many established in the 1800’s, returning often to favorites. Jay and Connie became lifetime members of the Texas Dance Hall Preservation Society.

Jay loved crossword puzzles, Jeopardy, grilling to perfection, and dogs. He was active in Redeemer men’s ministry, bible study, asset board, and as a worship assistant. He loved serving others for Jesus. Jay was a dedicated and vocal fan of Longhorn football, basketball, and volleyball. Jay loved to sing along to his playlists or the radio, and he always knew all the words after just hearing a song twice. His memorization skills were enviable. In retirement, he was perfecting his golf game and learning to speak Spanish. Jay loved fishing his entire life and treasured time on the water with his friends, his kids or alone. One of his kids’ most cherished memories is being taken out of school several times a year for an early morning fishing trip with dad.

Jay is survived by his wife of 37 years, Connie Ferris Jennings; daughter Jessica Marie Hannusch and husband Dennis; son Joshua Michael Jennings and fiancée Paige Kok; mother Jeanette Gunn Jennings; brother Kevin Michael Jennings and wife Kathy; aunt Anna Marie Jennings; nephews Jonathan and Michael Jennings, David and Ryan Lasch; niece Katie Jennings Galvan; in-laws Ron and Jean Ferris; sister-in-law Catherine Lasch and husband Mark; and many beloved Jennings and Gunn cousins. Jay was preceded in death by his father Frank Lee Jennings.

A memorial service followed by a light lunch will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 11:00 A.M., 1500 West Anderson Lane, Austin, Texas, 78757. Pastor Schroder and Pastor Westergren will officiate. Special thanks to the AFD Honor Guard for their participation. Memorials may be given to Redeemer Lutheran Church or Texas Ramp Project – Austin Chapter.

Philippians 3:20-21 NIV

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.