Daniel "Danny" Lee Jenkins

Daniel "Danny" Lee Jenkins, 69, Waterloo, died Christmas Day, December 25, 2023, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home.

Danny was born March 26, 1954 in Cedar Falls to the late Jerry Lee and Rose Mary "Rosie" (Kuriger) Jenkins Sr.  He married Julie Back on December 23, 1985 in Evansdale and the couple celebrated 38 loving years together.  He worked in metal fabrication for many years in the Cedar Valley.

Dan was a gentle, kind and loving soul. When he loved, he loved hard and with all of his heart. His wife Julie was the love of his life. He also dearly loved his fur kids Kemo, Manika and Cochise.  Children and animals were always drawn to Dan's gentle and loving demeanor.

Dan and Julie took great pride in their home and yard and he so loved to sit on the deck and listen to the birds.

For the past six years he and Julie traveled to Texas to spend two weeks with their adopted family who loves them dearly. During those visits, they also traveled to southern New Mexico to spend time at the family's lake house. Dan loved to spend hours on the boat and would sit for hours staring at the mountains and the lake.

Dan was also an avid muscle car enthusiast. He loved his 1972 Dodge Demon and was always so proud to drive it and show it. He thoroughly enjoyed participating in cruises and shows where he met so many people who became very dear, life long friends.

Our love for Dan (Danny, Uncle Dan) will never diminish and his love for us will be with us always. That grin will remain etched in our hearts forever.

Danny is survived by his wife, Julie; dogs, Kemo, Manika and Cochise; sister and brother, Beth and Darryl Blanco; nieces and nephews, Brianne (Gibran for) Saad, Lindsey "Baby Girl" (RJ Cox) Wicker, Randy (Amber Salvatti) Fierro and Dalton Wentzel; great-nephew, Ethan Saad; special friends, Duane Thoms, Rick and Kathleen Dabney; Gene Hinders, Terri Bohnsack, Scott Birlingmair, Stephanie and Dave Boies and Gail Partain; and extended family and friends.  He is preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Jackie Dean Jenkins; brother, Jerry Lee Jenkins Jr.; and brother-in-law, Robb Back.

There will be a private service for Danny.

Memorials may be directed to Beth and Darryl Blanco.