Evelyn O. Jensen (1921-2008)

JENSEN, JOHNSON, CRANE, BRUGMAN, MORROW

Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 4/19/2008 at 08:42:41

THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Saturday, April 19, 2008.

Evelyn O. Jensen, 86, of rural Ogden, died Thursday, April 17, at the Evangelical Free Church Home in Boone. Evelyn's wishes were to be cremated. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at Carson-Stapp Funeral Home in Ogden. Burial will be at Glenwood Cemetery in Ogden.

Evelyn O. (Johnson) Jensen was born July 7, 1921, on a farm near Royal in northwest Iowa, the daughter of Albert H. and Ruth E. (Crane) Johnson.

A musician, composer, poet, playwright, teacher, author and entertainer, Evelyn was the dance accompanist at Iowa State University for 25 years and created and taught the course Sound and Movement in the dance curriculum. She was also a well known song stylist, actress and performer in Iowa clubs and theaters. Among other entertainments, she created solo concerts and revues and wrote the music, lyrics and libretto for the three-act musical melodrama, "Let the Buffalo Chips Fall Where They May," that was staged for ACTORS, the Ames Community Theater, where she also brought to life the title character in the Broadway show "Hello, Dolly!" After retiring from ISU, she accompanied the Octagon Tappers of Ames for nearly 10 years.

Evelyn graduated from Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa), taught junior high school, directed church choirs and composed hymns, gave private lessons in piano and voice, composed and performed sound scores for nationally known choreographers, and mentored many students. The Iowa State Dance Tour Company Achievement in Outreach Award is named in her honor. She is also recognized at ISU's Plaza of Heroines.

Evelyn is survived by her son, Kim Jensen, and daughter-in-law, Tyla Jensen, of Stratford; her three daughters, April Jensen, of Boone, and Kris Jensen and Jill Jensen, both of West Des Moines; and seven nieces and nephews. Grandchildren include Taylor and Tanner Jensen, of Stratford, Kelly Jensen, of Marshalltown, and Jeri Lyn Jensen of Minneapolis, Minn. Great-grandchildren are Connor and Jordan Jensen, of Marshalltown.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard I. Jensen; parents, Albert and Ruth Johnson; and two sisters, Vivian Brugman and Lola Morrow.

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