SPIRIT LAKE — Joe Dean Jennings Sr., 82, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, died Friday, October 9, 2026, after suffering a heart attack while answering a towing call alongside his sons. It was a fitting, though heartbreaking, final chapter for a man who had spent more than five decades building a family business, helping stranded motorists and serving the Iowa Great Lakes community he loved.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 17, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1005 Hill Avenue in Spirit Lake. Visitation will take place Friday, October 16, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Turner Jenness Funeral Home, 1302 Hill Avenue in Spirit Lake.
For generations of motorists around Spirit Lake, the Jennings name meant help was on the way. Whether a vehicle had broken down, a driver was stranded or someone needed a tow, Joe built his life around answering those calls. Even at 82, he remained involved in the work he loved, alongside the sons who had followed him into the family business.
Joe was born May 21, 1944, in Des Moines, the son of Joseph Jennings and Margaret (Monroe) Cleghorn. As a teenager, he moved to Bloomer, Wisconsin, where a part-time job at Hurt’s Service Station would change the course of his life.
There, he met Sylvia, the service station owner’s daughter. The two became high school sweethearts and married November 10, 1962, beginning a partnership that would span nearly 64 years.
Their early years together took them to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Joe worked for American Motors. In 1966, they returned to Bloomer and took over management of Northside Super Service, their first service station.
With four young children, Joe and Sylvia moved to Des Moines in July 1969, where he worked at a used car dealership. But they hoped to raise their family in a smaller community, and an opportunity soon presented itself in northwest Iowa.
A Texaco station in Spirit Lake needed a manager. Joe and Sylvia traveled to the Iowa Great Lakes to investigate, liked what they found and decided to make the community their home.
On March 1, 1970, they took over operation of the station, located where a Casey’s convenience store now stands.
The move would establish roots that lasted more than half a century.
After operating the Texaco station for approximately 10 years, the couple decided it was time to own their own business. In 1980, they took another leap of faith and founded Jennings Tow & Repair at its present location.
The operation began with a mechanic shop and a handful of tow trucks in the building that would eventually become Jennings Auto Parts.
In 1984, the entire family worked together to build the current service station. The original repair shop was converted into the auto parts business in 1990.
What began as a small operation grew into a familiar family-owned business in Spirit Lake, built through decades of hard work, persistence and the involvement of multiple generations.
Joe’s commitment to helping others extended well beyond his business.
He served the Spirit Lake Fire Department for 28 years, eventually rising to the rank of assistant chief. His years in public service reflected the same willingness to respond when someone needed help that defined his work in towing and vehicle recovery.
Joe and Sylvia also played an important role in a lasting change to Iowa highway safety.
Concerned about the dangers faced by emergency personnel and tow truck operators working alongside traffic, the couple helped advance Iowa’s Move Over Law, which took effect in 2002.
The law requires motorists approaching certain stopped emergency vehicles displaying flashing lights to move into another lane when possible or slow down when changing lanes cannot be done safely.
Joe and Sylvia were present at the State Capitol in Des Moines when Governor Terry Branstad signed the legislation into law, a milestone that reflected their determination to make Iowa roads safer for those working along the shoulder.
It was an achievement with a significance that extended far beyond Spirit Lake, protecting emergency responders, tow truck operators and others exposed to passing traffic.
Joe belonged to St. Mary’s Catholic Church and enjoyed bowling and golfing in local leagues. During the 1970s, he and Sylvia were also active square dancers.
Even family vacations frequently reflected Joe’s passion for the towing industry.
The couple regularly visited the International Towing & Recovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. As their grandchildren grew older, they joined trips to the annual Wisconsin Dells Tow Show.
Family vacations to Disney World also included visits to the Orlando Tow Show, blending Joe’s enthusiasm for his profession with the joy of spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He was a husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather whose work and family life were deeply intertwined. The business he helped create became more than a livelihood; it was a shared family endeavor and an enduring part of the Spirit Lake community.
Joe is survived by his wife, Sylvia, and their four children: Julie (Rand) Weaver; Rick (Tina Shannon) Jennings; Tony (Jill) Jennings; and Joe (Elisabeth) Jennings Jr.
He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Amanda (Jesse) Vallie; Ryan Jennings; Lexi (Justin) Theisen; Austin (Justina Cherry) Jennings; Macy Jennings; Caleb (Faith) Jennings; Hannah (Christian) Nussbaum; and Conner, Chloe and Cooper Shannon.
His two great-granddaughters are Kelsa Vallie and Cora Theisen.
Surviving siblings include Bob Jennings, Rory Cockerham, Tim (Linda) Jennings and Kelly (Tom) McKee.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Art Cockerham, Terry Cockerham and Vicky Jennings.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Spirit Lake Fire Department, 2001 Peoria Avenue, Spirit Lake, IA 51360.
For Joe Jennings, a lifetime of service meant being there when someone needed him. From the tow trucks and repair shop to the fire department and the Iowa highways he worked to make safer, his legacy will continue through his family, the business they built together and the countless lives touched by his willingness to answer the call.
Family members and friends may share memories, offer condolences and find additional service information through Turner Jenness Funeral Home’s obituary for Joe Jennings Sr..
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