McDonald, Julie Jensen (1929 - 2013)

MCDONALD, JENSEN, PEARSON, MINTENER, JONES, PETERSEN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 12/17/2013 at 18:44:36

Name of deceased: Mary Julienne "Julie" (nee Jensen) McDonald, AKA Julie Jensen

Aged: 84 yrs, 5 mo, 3 days

Residence: Pleasant Valley, IA

Born: June 22, 1929, at the family farm near Fiscus, Audubon County, IA

Died: Nov. 25, 2013, at Riverview Manor, Pleasant Valley, IA

Funeral services: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport, IA; Rev. Richard Miller officiated. Burial was in Oakdale Memorial Gardens, Davenport, IA.

Survived by: Husband of 61 years, Jack; daughter, Beth (spouse, Scott) Pearson, son, Elliott R. (spouse, Kei) McDonald III; parents-in-law, Gisela and Douglas McDonald; brother, Fred (spouse, Mary) Jensen of Daytona Beach Shores, FL, sister-in-law, Linda Mintener (spouse, Bob Jones) of Madison, WI, 6 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren

Predeceased by: father, Alfred Jensen; mother, Myrtle Petersen; step-father, John O. Petersen

Education: graduated from Harlan (IA) High School in 1947 and went on to the State University of Iowa in Iowa City. In 1951, Julie graduated with a degree in journalism cum laude, Mortar Board, Phi Beta Kappa

Religious affiliation: Julie was a deacon, elder and choir member of the former St. Andrew Presbyterian Church of Davenport, IA. Upon its closing, she became a member of First Presbyterian Church, Davenport, IA.

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Elliott R. (“Jack”) McDonald, Jr., May 6, 1952, Iowa City, IA

Employment: Her first job after college was with the Rockford, IL Register-Star, where she was Women's Editor. She later became a correspondent for the Davenport Times-Democrat covering the fine arts. Her journalism career continued until 2012 when she retired from the Rock Island Argus. Her newspaper byline was Julie Jensen.

Julie's literary career blossomed with the publication of two back-of-the-magazine novels in Redbook Magazine and the publication of the first book of her fictional family trilogy, based on her family's experiences emigrating from Denmark. Julie had over 30 published books. They include the family trilogy, historical fiction, biographies, a children's book, history of 50 cities in the Quad City area, cookbooks, personal recollections, prayers and graces. Her short stories appear in collections by well-known authors. Five of Julie's plays were produced - two by Davenport Junior Theater and one each by Playcrafters, Harrison Hilltop and New Ground Theaters. Julie appeared on stage in two Quad City Music Guild productions in the mid 1950's.

Julie was a lecturer at St. Ambrose University in fiction writing and journalism. She delivered the mid-term commencement address and was awarded an honorary doctorate. She also lectured at the University of Iowa Summer Writer's Workshop and traveled throughout the state giving week long seminars on writing to students K-12.

Hobbies/Interests: Julie was a member of national and regional Penwomen, who annually awarded her prizes for her newspaper and literary entries. She was also a member of Chapter JS PEO, the Danish Sisterhood, and the Scottish American Society of the Quad Cities, and Clan Donald USA.

Julie and Jack traveled extensively, both foreign and domestic, to well-known travel sites and to exotic destinations such as Nepal, Mongolia, Myanmar, Galapagos, Sri Lanka and numerous islands.

Sources: harlanonline.com; davenportlibrary.com; weertsfh.com