Mansfield Leon Jennings

Mansfield Leon Jennings passed away peacefully at age 85 on Dec. 23, 2024. He was at home, surrounded by family and loved ones. 

A leader in Southern Utah business, civic affairs, and the LDS Church, Mans was a lifelong St. George resident and proud descendant of Dixie pioneers. He was born April 13, 1939, to Annie McArthur and Lloyd Leon Jennings, in an upstairs bedroom of his maternal grandparents' home. The second of five children, he was named for a paternal great-uncle and his father. 

Mans graduated from Dixie High School and Dixie College, and served in the National Guard as an artilleryman. He served an LDS Mission to the Great Lakes Region, and subsequently earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Brigham Young University. While at BYU he reconnected with and dated Diane Kreitzer, whom he had met briefly as a missionary. They married in 1963, upon his graduation, and lived for 61 years as loving, devoted companions. 

Mans' life was grounded in his family, LDS principles, and service to others. Mans and Diane married on June 14, 1963 in the St. George, Utah LDS Temple. Over the years, they were blessed with six children: Mark Mansfield, Michael Kreitzer, Mary Ann, Laralyn, Anganette and Jessica Ann. The children brought their parents a lifetime of pride, joy, unique experiences and occasional frustrations. Their family expanded to include thirteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Mans dearly loved his family. He told them so frequently, and showed them through his daily actions. He built two family homes and two mountain getaways for them. He took them to his office and on trips, and taught them everything from home repairs to gardening. His grandchildren called him "Papa", and relied on him for advice and support. When they had a problem, they'd say “Papa can do it,” and he did. He built dance studios, fixed go-carts, taught marksmanship, and cared for pets. Mans' posterity was his greatest treasure, and he and Diane especially enjoyed hosting summer grandkid camps and extended family reunions in Pine Valley. 

The LDS church was central to Mans' life, and he lived by its principles. He loved his Heavenly Father, and had a deep and abiding testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He served wherever he was called. He was a Bishop in his 30s, was on multiple High Councils, and held many leadership positions. As a young missionary, he was an Assistant to his Mission President, Clifford Gledhill, with whom he remained close. Later in life, he and Diane served a mission together in the Transient Bishop’s office, administering welfare services. He is widely remembered for being a steadying, calming influence. Mostly though, he just did the work that needed to be done to care for others. He particularly loved ward work projects, often doing the unseen tasks like delivering food, repairing buildings, or pulling weeds on the church grounds. 

In the community, Mans was a builder, steward, and civic leader. His character and work ethic were exemplary. Early on, as an 11-year-old, he went to Zion's Bank to secure a $100 loan, then built a lawn mower from an old trailer and started a business. He had another business as a teen building burial boxes. After college, he returned to St. George at his father's request to help run J&J Mill and Lumber Co., a company founded by his grandfather. He later became President and CEO, then, along with his brother, Gilbert, purchased the company and expanded it to a full range of building supplies. They built J&J Building Supply over two-plus decades before shifting to commercial development. They were a good team, and helped their hometown to grow tenfold in the time they worked together. Mans took great pride in the countless employees' families that their businesses supported. Many of these employees remained lifelong friends. 

Mans' pioneer heritage was central to his identity. The Jennings and McArthurs helped establish St. George, and he felt a personal duty to further their contributions. His work in the growth and development of Southern Utah extended beyond his construction-related businesses to his roles in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and Kiwanis Clubs. He served on the St. George City Council, as head of Dixie Development Corporation, and on boards of directors of several intermountain building organizations. He found satisfaction in seeing the positive growth that resulted. He loved to drive around Washington County and see the new buildings. His favorite memories, however, were out of the limelight. He was proud of designing a county-wide sanitation system, and relished setting off the 4th of July fireworks with the Kiwanis Club in the Dixie Sun Bowl. 

Mans worked until he couldn't, and in the final years of his life he endured multiple chronic conditions, including kidney disease and dementia. Mans faced these adversities with fortitude and grace, supported by his family and caregivers. The Jennings family is deeply grateful to the staff of DaVita Dixie Dialysis, Choice Hospice Services (particularly Hailee Mercier and Cheyenne Yazzie), and Richard Berry for their tender and compassionate care. 

It is with the deepest sense of gratitude and appreciation that we bid a temporary “goodbye” to Mans. He was husband, father, Papa, son, brother, uncle, cousin, mentor and friend. He is and will continue to be greatly missed. 

Mans was preceded in death by two daughters, Mary Ann and Laralyn; his parents, Annie and Leon, sister Margery, and numerous extended family and friends. Mans is survived by his wife Diane, and children Mark (Jeanette Welsh), Mike (Teri Shaver), Angi (Trevor) Holt, and Jessica Jones. Surviving grandchildren include Rohan and Talia Jennings; James (Shaylene) and Kason (Tara) Jennings; Stefani (Steve) Mortensen and Sydni (Nick) Poma; Dallin (Taylor), Hailey, and Hunter (Alexis) Holt, Kelsey (Will) Haslam; and Maxwell, Alexander and Jaxon Jones. Great grandchildren include Scarlett, Skyler; Ashtin, Cooper, Peyton, Treyson, Memphis; Amelia, Andrew, Rose Mary, Louise; Madilyn; Remi. 

Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. at the Fort Pierce Chapel located at 750 East Fort Pierce Drive. There will be a viewing from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. prior. Friends may call on Sunday, Dec. 29, from 4:30 to 6:30 P.M. at McArthur Funeral Home, 160 West 700 South.  The service will be live streamed and the link is listed below.