Jensen, Donald Dean 1938-2013

JENSEN, POTTER, BUTLER, SCHAMP, BUSS, BARNES, FREEMAN, ELLING, CASEY, DEVRIES, GUNDERSON, DAUM, WHIPKEY, IVERSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/17/2013 at 15:53:04

Donald Dean Jensen
(November 27, 1938 - June 13, 2013)

Don Jensen, 74, of Oelwein, Iowa died suddenly on Thursday morning, June 13, 2013 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at Grace United Methodist Church, Oelwein with Rev. Connie Markle officiating. Visitation: 2:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Monday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein and for one hour before the service at the church on Tuesday. Public Masonic Service: 7:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home by the Oelwein Hebron Masonic Lodge #374 A.F. & A.M. Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein, Iowa. A Memorial Fund has been established for Grace United Methodist Church & the Oelwein Area United Way. Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com

Donald Dean Jensen was born on November 27, 1938 in Latimer, Iowa, the son of Lawrence & Gwendolyn (Potter) Jensen. As a child Don was always working selling ice cream, shoes or at many other various jobs. He graduated from Hampton High School at Hampton, Iowa. Don served in the U.S. Army. Don then attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Don moved to Oelwein where he worked at Butler Coal Company and at Appliance Buyers Credit Corporation. Don met Linda Jane Butler of Oelwein and they were united in marriage on September 1, 1962, at Grace United Methodist Church in Oelwein. Don & Linda lived in Des Moines as Linda was finishing her college degree and Don continued to work for the credit corporation. They returned to Oelwein in 1963, and three children were born to this union, Kendall, Kim and Chad. Don worked as a licensed auctioneer after graduating from auctioneer school. He later obtained his realtors license and worked for Lou Pirillo Realty. Don purchased the business from Lou and owned and operated Don Jensen Realtors for many years. He continued his realtor work as an associate at Cornerstone Realtors in Oelwein. Don was a well-known businessman in the community, respected and admired by all who knew him for his knowledge, fairness and honesty. Don and Linda enjoyed traveling to 34 countries and the time they spent with their family at their cabins in Guttenberg and Ackley, Minnesota and their condos at Punta Gorda and Bonita Springs, both in Florida. Don was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Oelwein Hebron Masonic Lodge #374 A.F. & A.M., the Shriners and the Sons of the Legion. He enjoyed watching and participating in many sports and was an avid golfer. Don treasured his time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren. Don always made life exciting. He enjoyed sharing with others about his latest bargain purchase, showing off his basketball moves, sharing coffee with his friends or rolling his own cigarettes. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Don is survived by his Wife: Linda Jensen of Oelwein; 2 Daughters: Kendall Jensen of Oelwein & Kim Jensen and her son: Ben of Oelwein; Son: Chad (Lisa) Jensen and their children: Lauren, Will & Harrison of Ankeny; Brother: Larry Jensen of Hampton; Sister-In-Law: Sue Jensen of Newton and Nieces & Nephews: Josette Daum (Chuck Schamp), Jackie (Terry) Buss, Lyn (Jay) Barnes, Rod (Tammy) Freeman, Shelleen (Mike) Elling, Tammy (Doug) Casey, Dawn (Chad) Devries, Julie (Kirk) Gunderson & Jeff (Liz) Jensen.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, brother: Bill Jensen, 3 Sisters: Lois Daum, Esther Freeman & Barbara Whipkey, niece: Jean Iverson and a nephew: Curt Jensen. ~ The Des Moines Register Website, Des Moines, Iowa.