A DOTING father-of-two collapsed suddenly and died at his home.
Sports-mad John Jenkins, 43, was “as fit as a fiddle” before he collapsed due to a brain aneurysm.
The warehouse manager leaves wife Joanne, daughters Sam, 26, and Stacey, 23, and granddaughters Layla, four, and seven-month-old Seren.
Mrs Jenkins, 43, of Willow Drive, Flint, said: “It still hasn’t sunk in. There was nothing wrong with John.
“He loved DIY and was always doing one job or another for different people.
“We’re taking each day as it comes but at the moment I just can’t imagine my life without him.”
Mrs Jenkins left her husband watching television when she went to bed but awoke at 4am on Saturday to find the bed empty. She later found him lying on the kitchen floor before calling an ambulance.
“I knew straight away he had gone,” said Mrs Jenkins, who works at Nice-Pak in Flint.
“The paramedics said it would have been instant and that he wouldn’t have known what was happening.
“We’re just grateful that it didn’t happen when he was driving with the kids in the car.”
Mr Jenkins, a former Flint High School student, and Mrs Jenkins, an ex-pupil of St Richard Gwyn High School in Flint, became childhood sweethearts aged 14 and married three years later.
They enjoyed holidaying in the Canary Islands and hosting parties at their home.
“He would come up with his own cocktails for people even though he was not a big drinker,” said Mrs Jenkins.
“We always had a house full and everyone loved him. He would do anything for his family. He worshipped his grandchildren.”
Mr Jenkins also enjoyed rally driving, boxing and football. His favourite team was Leeds United.
Sister-in-law Carla Evans, 37, also of Flint, added: “If there was ever an opportunity to make fun of you he would, but you just laughed because he was John and he was a joker.”
Mr Jenkins worked at Norbert Dentressangle in Bromborough, Wirral, where he would have celebrated 25 years service with the company later this year.
A company spokesman said: “The news was a massive shock, John was a team player in every way.
“He always had a smile on his face and he will be greatly missed.”
The Mayor of Flint, Cllr David Cox, whose 26-year-old daughter Sarah died of a brain haemorrhage six years ago, also extended his sympathies.
He said: “Sarah was getting ready for a night out and was combing her hair when it just happened.
“You just feel numb and there are no words to express how you feel.
“This is heartbreaking and my sympathies are with the family of Mr Jenkins at this difficult time.”
Daughter Sam, mother of Seren, said: “The family would like to thank the Welsh Ambulance Service, friends, family, neighbours and Donna Hewitt for all of their help and support.”
Mr Jenkins’ funeral will be held at 1pm on Wednesday at St John’s United Reformed
Church, Flint, followed by a burial at Flint Cemetery.