Jay Venable died Friday, February 8, 2008 at the Winneshiek Medical Center. He was 42 years of age.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at the Conway Funeral Home, with burial in Oak Lawn Cemetery, both in Cresco. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m until 7 p.m on Monday and one hour prior to services on Tuesday.
Jay Craig Venable was born on February 28, 1965 in Martinsville, Virginia, the son of James and Judith (Bowman) Venable. His father being in the Army, Jay moved a lot when he was a boy. He lived in Martinsville and Richmond, VA. At the age of seven, he moved to Frankfurt, Germany, at age 10, to Fort Hood, TX, then Boise, ID and in 1979, he moved with his family to Cresco, IA. Jay graduated from Crestwood High School in 1983.
Jay entered the Army Reserves while in high school, spending four years and entered active duty in 1986. He spent almost two years in Germany, before being discharged in 1988. Following his military service, he returned to Cresco to make his home. He worked as a farm hand before going to work for DECO in Decorah. He worked in factories until he became disabled because of health in 2001.
During Jay’s short life, he made many friends and during his illness, he was able to nurture plants and flowers, which he had always enjoyed, but never had the time. Jay also liked small animals and had a special dog “Shana” which unfortunately had died prior to Jay’s death. Jay had also dedicated his life to the Lord and was baptized in November 2007 at Calvary Baptist Church in Charles City, Iowa.
Jay is survived by his mother, Judy Venable of Cresco; two sisters: Jean Manning of Bloomington, MN and Julie Frazer of Cresco, IA; nieces and nephews: Sarah, Scott and Ryan Manning; Breanna, Jessica and Colby Frazer; a great niece: Kayden Manning; aunts, uncles, and many friends.