Exequiela "Squeaky" Jensen 1921 - 2008

JENSEN, DIAZ, SUAREZ

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/19/2019 at 13:36:50

Sioux City Journal
17 October 2008

SIOUX CITY -- Exequiela "Squeaky" Jensen, 87, of Sioux City passed peacefully from this world Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, at a local care facility with the Blessed Virgin Mary guiding her way.
Graveside services were held Oct. 16 in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements were under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service in Sergeant Bluff.

Exequiela was born April 10, 1921, in Sioux City, the daughter of Abraham and Sofia (Diaz) Suarez. Abraham and Sofia immigrated to the United States from Jailisco, Mexico with Sofia's two sisters, Eulalia and Andrea. Her brothers, Ignatius, Faustino and Raymond were born in the U.S. She was the last surviving member of her own family of origin.

She lived her entire life in Sioux City. She lived in Sioux City's South Bottoms until the Floyd River Project forced the family to relocate. She attended public school. In grade school, her classmates dubbed her "Squeaky" and the name endured.

On Feb. 9, 1944, she married Warren H. Jensen. Together, their marriage survived the end of World War II, two major floods in Sioux City and their five active children. Warren died Jan. 23, 1983 and she went to live with Petrina for many years. The last three and one half years of her life, was spent in the Alzheimer's unit at Sunrise Manor, where she was cared for with great kindness. A frequent visitor and a source of joy for Grandma Squeak the past two years was her great-grandson, Gregory.

She was of the Catholic faith. She came from a musical family and loved to sing. Long after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, she continued to sing some to the words of her famous rendition of a song known to family as Jalisco, Jalisco.

She was especially proud to be a mother of a military son, Paul. Despite living a simple life, she traveled to Canada, Minnesota, Michigan, Washington D.C., Colorado and Florida. One of her favorite adventures was traveling to Disney World with Paul and Myong. She loved to dance to rock and roll music. She was a die-hard Vikings fan. She loved to listen to Heelan Crusader football games on the radio. Her kids loved her tortillas and enchiladas, often sneaking samples of the treats before it was time to eat.

The couple were blessed with five children, Leslie (Sharon) Jensen, Sophia (Gerry) LeMoine, Paul (Myong) Jensen, Rozenna (Allen) Koskovich and Petrina (the late James) Lewis. The memory of Warren and Squeaky Jensen will live on in their children; nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

She is now at rest with Warren in Memorial Park Cemetery