Jensen, Alan L. ("AJ") (1936 - 2019)

JENSEN, CHRISTENSEN, MARTENS, DREES, JENSEN-WELCH, KITE, JENSEN-HOGUE, ODOM, OHDE, WEINBRANDT

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 10/1/2019 at 11:15:12

Name of deceased: Alan L. Jensen (“AJ”)

Aged: 83 yrs, 1 mo, 7 days

Residence: Manilla Manor, Manilla, Crawford County, IA

Born: July 12, 1936; Manilla, Crawford County, IA

Died: Aug. 19, 2019; Manilla Manor, Manilla, Crawford County, IA

Funeral services: Monday, Aug. 26, 2019; Pauley Jones Funeral Home, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Wife of 62 years, Janet; daughters, Julie (spouse, Gary) Drees, Jill Jensen-Welch (spouse, John Kite), and Jeana Jensen-Hogue (spouse, Tim Hogue); grandchildren, Tim (spouse, Sarah) Welch, David Hogue, and JaCee Hogue; great-granddaughter, Isla Welch; brother-in-law, James (spouse, JoAnn) Martens; sister-in-law, Judy Odom; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Sievert and Alice (nee Christensen) Jensen; parents-in-law, Gilbert and Viola (nee Ohde) Martens; brothers, Robert Jensen and James Jensen; sister-in-law, Myra (nee Weinbrandt) Jensen

Education: Attended country school before going to Manilla (IA) Public School; he graduated with the Class of 1954

Religious affiliation: Life-long member, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Irwin, IA; had served on the church council

Military service: U. S. Army, Jan. 1955 –- Jan. 1958; as newlyweds, AJ and Janet lived in Petaluma, CA, where he was a Morse Code Intercept Operator for the Army

Marriage: Janet A. Martens; Sep. 15, 1956; St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Irwin, Shelby County, IA

Employment: Farmer on his family’s Century Farm, retiring in 2016; he also sold seed corn for years, as well as having worked for Shelby County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS)

Hobbies/Interests: Having coffee with friends; playing cards; bowling; playing cribbage; watching his grandchildren participate in sports and other activities; was the Parade Chairman in 1986 for the Manilla Centennial Celebration, and served on the Greeley Township Committee caring for the Aster Cemetery.

In 1962 Alan became a Mason as a member of the Sardius Lodge #444 in Irwin, IA. He served several terms as Master of the lodge. In 1971, he became a member of the York Rite Bodies of Harlan, IA and joined the Sioux City (IA) Scottish Rite Bodies in 1987. In 1990, he joined the Golden Leaf Lodge #595 in Manilla, Iowa, holding a dual membership with the Sardius Lodge.

Alan was a proud Shriner and joined the Abu Bekr Temple in 1971. He was a member of the West Central Iowa Animal Unit and served as the group's President on several occasions and spearheaded the Vidalia onion fundraiser for the Unit. He was appointed to the Divan in 1990 and rose to serve as Potentate of the Abu Bekr Temple in 1999. As part of his Shrine activities, he was also a member of Cabiri, Jesters, and Kachina Club, and represented Abu Bekr on the IA Shrine All-Star Football Board of Directors for many years, including a turn as President.

Sources: kjan.com; knodfm.com; pauleyjones.com