Jensen, Anna B. "Ann" (1930-2018)
JENSEN, IZRAEL, PLACKO, STEELE, KUCERA, REPISCHEK, ZAVADSKY, SAMBORSKI
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/18/2021 at 17:36:23
Anna B. "Ann" Jensen
July 8, 1930 - December 18, 2018As a result of kidney failure, Anna “Ann” Bozena (Izrael) Jensen passed away peacefully at her home in Lakeside, Iowa, on December 18, 2018, at the age of 88.
Anna was born on July 8, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, to John, Sr., and Anna (Placko) Izrael, both immigrants from Czechoslovakia. After they settled in, they met in the Slovak neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Baptized at Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church, Anna attended Grover Cleveland Grade School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1948. Growing up, she enjoyed helping to prepare family Slovak dinners and pastries, going to polka dances, and helping her parents with their neighborhood grocery store while her father, also, worked full-time at the Santa Fe Railroad Yard. As a teenager, she enjoyed roller skating with her friends and going to the movies as well. In addition, having volunteered for the Red Cross, she folded bandages during World War II. In 1949, she graduated from cosmetology school and worked as a beautician in Chicago.
Anna met Robert D. Jensen, Sr., while roller skating in Chicago. They married in 1952. Robert was working as a carpenter, and Anna part-time at home as a beautician. In time, they had four children, Bobby, Anne, John, and Kenneth, all born in Chicago. In March of 1964, the family moved from Chicago to their farm in Storm Lake, Iowa. Anna enjoyed farm work, especially tending to the pigs and calves, walking the bean fields, and preparing many meals for her hard-working family and farm neighbors. A devoted homemaker, she spent a great deal of time canning garden vegetables, sewing, and baking. Always proud of her children, she delighted in their accomplishments.
Even after Anna and Robert, Sr., moved from the farm to Lakeside, Iowa, in 1988, they continued to work at the farm for years. Moreover, Anna joined the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake and became an active member of the United Methodist Women (UMW). She had great faith in her Lord who gave her daily strength. She volunteered for many years helping out at funeral lunches and Methodist Rummage sales. She organized the Friday Methodist Ladies Lunches, a meeting of up to fifteen friends who enjoyed going out to lunch and spending time with one another. Anna enjoyed knitting and crocheting sweaters, hats, mittens, dish cloths, and afghans for family and friends alike. In addition, she knitted many white baby blankets for baptisms and many warm hats for children in need. An active volunteer at the Buena Vista Hospital, she, even, worked to put together the hospital patient admission folders.
Anna, also, enjoyed traveling to Chicago and its suburbs to visit family and friends. Moreover, she, often, visited Durango, Colorado, to spend time with her daughter, Anne, and son-in-law, Bob Steele. She enjoyed the southwest, especially a trip to the Grand Canyon, which included a reunion with a Chicago childhood girlfriend in Arizona. In 2004, Anna joined Anne for a tour of the Czech Republic. They, then, traveled to Trencin, Slovakia, where they spent time with her father’s family, and visited the village of Brezova Pod Bradlom, Slovakia, her mother’s birth place and the grave site of her grandparents. Anna, easily, remembered and spoke the Czech/Slovak language while spending two weeks there.
Anna is survived by her sons, Robert D. “Bobby” Jensen, Jr., of Storm Lake, Iowa, and John P. (Jan) Jensen, of St. Charles, Illinois; her daughter, Anne Jensen (Bob Steele), of Durango, Colorado; her sister-in-law, Ann Izrael, of Park Ridge, Illinois; her cousin, Norma Kucera, and family of Chicago, Illinois; five grandchildren: Jeremy (Stephanie) and Derek Jensen, Stacey (Paul) Repischek, of West Chicago, Illinois, and David and Amy Jensen (mother Shari Jensen), of Warrenville, Illinois; and five great-grandchildren: Jonathan, Austin, Lola, Madison, and Sophia; her nephews, Jim (Ida) Izrael and Michael (Theresa) Izrael, and their son, Marco, of Park Ridge, Illinois; and her cousins, Tom (Dee) Zavadsky, and family of Cary, Illinois, and Lynn Samborski, and children, Kimberly and Christopher, of Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Anna was preceded in death by her parents, John, Sr., and Anna Izrael; her husband, Robert D. Jensen, Sr; her brother, John Izrael, Jr; her cousins, Martin Kucera and Elizabeth Zavadsky; and her son. Kenneth J. Jensen.
Anna and her family would like to thank her Methodist Church Friends and Pastor Phil; her special friends, Virginia Carlson, Inez Hess, and Adah Hadenfelt, and her wonderful Lakeside neighbors, especially Leroy and Joan Morse and family, Carolyn Wilson, Neil Garrels, and Jeanie Bellinghausen, as well as friends Janet and Don McClure and Gary and Sandy Wallburg, her UnityPoint Hospice staff, and her doctors, Dr. Scott Wulfekuhler and Dr. Michael Lee. All these people, along with family members, helped to make it possible for Anna to remain in her home until she passed away. Obviously, she will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and loyal dog, Laddie. Many will remember her for her kindness and willingness to help others.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at the Storm Lake United Methodist Church. Visitation will take place for one hour before the service at the church. A luncheon will be served immediately afterward at the Church Family Life Center. In lieu of flowers, please extend yourself in kindness to others whenever you can. If so desired, consider a memorial donation in Anna’s memory to the Storm Lake United Methodist Church or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org) in memory of her son, Kenneth J. Jensen. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be made via the web site: www.fratzkejensen.com .
Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes, Storm Lake, Iowa, 2018.
Buena Vista Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
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