Jensen, Dr. Earl J. 1922-1989

JENSEN, HANSEN, DIMICK, SMITH, WARREN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 9/25/2014 at 11:47:53

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
July 1989

EARL JENSEN
DIES AT 67

Dr. Earl J. Jensen, a practicing Grinnell optometrist since 1949, died of cancer at his home Tuesday, July 18.

Funeral services were conducted Thursday at the Grinnell United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Raymond Lott officiating. Organist was Kathleen Heffner.

Pallbearers were Doug Callison, Floyd Davis, Matt Peiffer, Steve Schmidt, Robert Sharp, John R. Smith, William Smith and Jim Van Es. Honorary bearers were Everett C. Armstrong, Charles Bethel, Dr. H. Raymond Light, Merlin Manatt, Charles M. Manly II, Ned Postels, Arnold J. Schulte, Donald B. Vance and Gordon L. Wold.

Burial was in Hazelwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Grinnell United Methodist Church and sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home.

He was the son of Nick and Carrie Hansen Jensen and was born March 17, 1922, at Audubon. He graduated from Audubon High School in 1939 and attended Iowa State University. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in the military police in Europe and Japan.

He attended South Dakota State University and graduated with a doctor of optometry degree from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago in 1948.

Dr. Jensen practiced in Newton with his uncle, Dr. Ben Jensen, and on April 1, 1949, established the Jensen Optometric Clinic in Grinnell.

He was married to Lois Gwen Dimick on Oct. 1, 1950, in Audubon. The couple lived in Grinnell where he was a member of the United Methodist Church, the American Legion, the Grinnell Country Club and the American and Iowa Optometric Associations. He served for one term on the association's board of trustees and also was past president of the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce.

Surviving are his wife, Gwen; three sons, Clark, Scott and Tracy, all of Grinnell; one daughter, Carol Smith of Grinnell; nine grandchildren; his mother, Carrie M. Jensen of Audubon; a sister, Elaine C. Warren of Audubon; and a brother, Donald C. of Fairfield. He was preceded in death by his father.