David P. Jenkins, a longtime attorney and judge who spent college summers working as a reporter for The (Appleton) Post-Crescent, died Sunday, Jan. 9, at his home in Middleton. He was 72.
Born Feb. 3, 1949, in Seymour, he was the son of Charles Jenkins and Marjorie Prey. Jenkins attended Seymour High School and graduated as class valedictorian in 1967. While in high school, he covered sports for the student newspaper and attended a summer journalism institute at Northwestern University.
Jenkins studied political science and economics at UW-Madison, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1971. While at UW, he served on the Board of Directors for The Daily Cardinal student newspaper. During his summers back home in Seymour, Jenkins worked as a reporter for The Post-Crescent in nearby Appleton.
He went on to earn his juris doctorate degree in 1974 from Yale Law School and began his legal career at Shellow & Shellow in Milwaukee. Jenkins later worked for the Unemployment Insurance Division of Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development. He remained with DWD until his retirement, serving as a department attorney and administrative law judge.
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Jenkins married Mary Pertzborn on June 7, 1986, in Middleton.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. Those wishing to attend are directed to check the funeral home website for updates.
