Richard Howard “Rich” Jensen (1928-2009)
JENSEN, SWANSON, MANTLE, SANCHEZ, KOPF, WICKS, BENSON, WHALEN
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 11/6/2009 at 07:13:17
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, November 3, 2009.
Richard Howard “Rich” Jensen, 81, of Fort Collins, Colo., completed his journey in this life on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at Pathways Hospice in Loveland, Colo.
Richard was born May 2, 1928, in Ames, the eldest of eight children, to Holger Peter Jensen and Agnes Florence Swanson Jensen.
After graduating from Gilbert High School, Richard entered the U.S. Marine Corps where he served for two years in the Pacific Theater as a radar operator and military policeman on Midway Island at the end of World War II.
Raised on a farm north of Ames, Richard was a farm boy at heart, and kept his love of the land throughout his life. After his honorable discharge from the USMC, Richard farmed near Ames and Stevens Point, Wis., then joined the Iowa Highway Patrol in 1957. While on the IHP, he worked in North Central Iowa’s District 8 and in Des Moines. Realizing his dream to live in the West, Richard moved to Fort Collins in 1979 where he owned and operated Jensen Advertising Products until 2006. Retiring at the age of 78, Richard was well-known for being a fair, hard working and honorable man, where his word and a firm handshake were his bond.
Richard was the father of 10 children, six from his first marriage, and four from his marriage in 1965 to Linda Samo Jensen of Fort Collins. Richard enjoyed simple pleasures in life, such as playing cards or reading a good book. He was an avid gardener and liked to share fresh harvests and good stories with family and neighbors. Many friendships were forged in the Fort Collins Horseshoe Pitching Club, an organization Richard was instrumental in forming. In later years, he enjoyed a nice, competitive game of pool at home and at the Greeley Senior Center. He was always trying to perfect his game and loved the challenge.
From early childhood, Richard was raised in the Lutheran faith. Since 1979, he was a member of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Fort Collins and Bethel Lutheran Church in Windsor, Colo.
Survivors include his loving wife of 44 years, Linda; sons Eric (Debbie) and Bradley (Kim) of Des Moines, Gregory (Ann) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Steven (Annette) of Minneapolis; daughters Christine Jensen Mantle of Red Feather Lakes, Colo., Catherine Jensen Sanchez (Alejo) of Merida, Venezuela, Ellen Jensen (Mike Pond) of Stevenson, Wash., Barbara Jensen and Becky Jensen of Fort Collins, and Beth Jensen Kopf (Mark) of Nelson, New Zealand; brothers Paul and Fred of rural Ames, Robert of rural Story City, and sisters Anna B. Wicks of Ankeny, and Amy Benson of Eau Claire, Wisc. Also surviving are grandchildren Eric, Laura, Luke, Bryan, Nick, Kally, Aaron, Sarah, Amy, Leif, Tyler, Gabe, Ashley, Jared, Robert, Zach, Daniel, Meghan, Emma, Magnus, Jonah, Grace, Jacob and Dane; and great-grandchildren Ethan, Mitchell, Dean, Grant, Brooke, Libby and Elsie; an aunt, Lillian Whalen of Grand Junction, Colo.; and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Daniel and James.
A memorial service will be held at Gilbert Lutheran Church, 135 School St., on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Gilbert Lutheran Church. Pastor Tom Prochnow will officiate. Cremation was performed by Bohlender Funeral Chapel in Fort Collins. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held in Fort Collins at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice, 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO, 80525, by calling (970) 663-3500, or online at www.
pathways-care.org. Floral arrangements may be sent to Gilbert Lutheran Church.
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