Jennifer Elaine Faulkner was born on March 20, 1978 in Hawarden, Iowa to Terry and Sandy (Pickard) Faulkner. She was raised in Akron and attended Akron-Westfield schools. In her youth she played piano and was a talented trumpist. She graduated from Akron-Westfield High School in 1997. Jen worked at Wells Blue Bunny for several years before working at Polaris in Vermillion for 17 years. She had also previously worked part time at The Coffee Cup, Hummers, and most recently The Other Bar. Jen really enjoyed bartending and getting to visit with her regulars. She was such an outgoing and friendly person; she was able to strike up a conversation and make new friends wherever she went.
Jen enjoyed watching football, rooting for the Iowa Hawkeyes and several NFL teams. She was a wonderful cook and made many great dishes, especially several different soups. She loved fishing, camping, watching Lifetime movies, and singing, even if she wasn't always on tune! She enjoyed going to visit family in Arizona and soaking up the warm weather while she was there! Jen was a volunteer firefighter for Akron Fire-Rescue for 17 years; she was the first female volunteer firefighter in Plymouth County. She always loved going to the Iowa Firefighters Association Conventions and participating in water fights in which she won several trophies!
Jen is survived by her daughter, Kylie (Gavin) McInnis of Akron; mother, Sandy (Harry) Newman of Akron; father, Terry (Roz) Faulkner of Akron; sisters: Jaime (Curt) Hawkins of Le Mars and Sarah (Chad) Harvey of Akron; step sisters: Angie Sonnenschein of Sioux Falls, Michelle Salburg of Akron, and Theresa (Tony) Nemesio of Akron; niece and nephews: Hunter, Colton, Conner, Amanda, and Dylan; step nieces and nephews: Jersey, Clay, Brody, Easton, AJ, Tori, and Alyssa; maternal grandmother, Mary Estep of Arizona; bonus sister, Amy Wilms; aunts, uncles, cousins, and other extended relatives.
Jen is preceded in death by her infant brother, David Lee; maternal grandparents: John Estep and Bill Pickard; paternal grandparents, Bill and Albertha Faulkner; cousin, Tommy Stephens; aunt, Linda Southern; and niece, Samantha Hawkins.
