Simon L. and Anna C. (Thygesen) Jensen

JENSEN, THYGESEN, SAND, JONES, SCHNOEPPNER

Posted By: Jennifer J. Jensen (email)
Date: 5/9/2004 at 12:34:18

Simon L. and Anna C. (Thygesen) Jensen

Simon Laurentius Jensen, son of Christen and Eva Marie (Jensen) Jensen, was born in Douglas Township, Audubon County on February 25, 1896. He was baptized on March 11, 1896, at Ebenezer Danish Lutheran Church and was confirmed there on April 23, 1911. He joined Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon in 1932. SEE ALSO: Christen and Eva Marie (Jensen) Jensen

Simon attended rural schools in Douglas Center. During World War I, he was a private in the U.S. Army. He served from 1918–1919 and was stationed in France with the Allied Expeditionary Forces. While there, he guarded German prisoners of war. Simon was a life-long member of the American Legion. All of his sons served in the armed forces during World War II.

Simon Jensen was united in marriage to his neighbor, Anna Thygesen, on February 25, 1920, at Ebenezer Danish Lutheran Church.

Anna Christine Thygesen, the daughter of Danish immigrants Ted S. (Thyge) and Marie (Jensen) Thygesen, was born October 20, 1897, near Massena, Adams County, Iowa. The Thygesen family moved to Douglas Township, Audubon County, in 1903. Anna and several other family members were baptized at the Ebenezer Danish Lutheran Church on September 27, 1903. She was confirmed there on April 6, 1913. Anna attended rural schools in Douglas Center; then helped on the family farm.

Simon and Anna lived their entire lives in Audubon County. They farmed in Douglas Township until January, 1927, when they moved to Audubon. Simon worked for the U.S. Postal Department for thirty-nine years. He was serving as Assistant Post Master at the time of his retirement in 1966. Simon died on May 28, 1974. Anna maintained her home until she became a resident of the Exira Care Center in 1978 and Friendship Home in 1979. She died September 6, 1994, at the age of 96 years.

The Jensens were the parents of four children. The older children attended rural school in Douglas Center and transferred to town when the family moved to Audubon. All of them graduated from Audubon Public Schools. Leo, Wayne and Mary graduated together with the Class of 1940.

Leo Christian was born on December 10, 1920. He married Audrey Jones at Ebenezer Lutheran Church on August 25, 1957. He died on February 21, 2001, and is buried in Audubon’s Maple Grove Cemetery. Leo served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1940 – 1945. He was honorably discharged in 1945, having attained the rank of Boatswain's Mate Second Class.

Wayne Eugene was born December 21, 1921, and was killed in Italy on March 9, 1945, while serving as an Air Force pilot with the Royal Air Force. Wayne was a 2nd Lieutenant with the 416th Allied Air Force Night Fighter’s Squadron at the time of his death. He was initially interred in Italy, but his remains were later returned to the United States for burial in the National Cemetery in Keokuk, Iowa.

Mary Lorraine was born January 18, 1923. She married Harold Sand on December 25, 1950, and today continues to make her home on their farm outside Audubon.

Willis Orville was born on June 9, 1926. He married Betty Schnoeppner on August 8, 1950, at Templeton, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 –1946, including participation in the Pacific Asiatic Theatre during World War II.
Willis died on August 14, 1988, and is buried in the parish cemetery in Remsen, Iowa.

The Jensens are interred in Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.