JENSEN, Theo. Newlin 1926-2015

JENSEN

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 7/8/2015 at 10:55:29

T. Newlin Jensen

ST. ANSGAR, IOWA - Theodore Newlin Jensen, 89, of St. Ansgar died on Friday, July 3, 2015, at the Good Samaritan Center, St. Ansgar.

Funeral service will be on Friday, July 10, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar. Burial will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar, and one hour prior to service at the church.

Military honors will be conducted by the Walter T. Enneberg Post No. 358 of the American Legion.

Theodore Newlin Jensen was born in rural Worth County on March 4, 1926, the fourth child and only son of Theodore and Elnora (Mellem) Jensen. He grew up on a farm near Kensett with his parents and five sisters and was kept busy working on the farm. He was baptized and confirmed in the Kensett Lutheran Church. Newlin received his education in the Kensett School and enjoyed playing basketball in high school. He served in the Iowa National Guard during his junior and senior high schools years. He graduated from Kensett High School in the class of 1944.

Newlin was drafted into the army on April 9, 1945, and started his basic training in Little Rock, Arkansas. His father passed away two weeks after he entered the army. Newlin was later sent to Fort Ord, California. There he resigned from the drafted army and enlisted in the regular army, hoping to be assigned to the European area where his father had served during the First World War. Newlin was happy to see some of the places where his father had been. Newlin was assigned to the Army Security Agency with duties of monitoring communications of other countries and breaking their codes. His time in service took him to Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Italy and Yugoslavia.

Following his years in service, Newlin returned to north Iowa and graduated from Hamilton Business College, Mason City with a degree in accounting. He worked for Klipto Loose Leaf Co. in Mason City and later was accountant for Sherwin Falk plumbing company in Northwood. In Northwood he met a kindergarten teacher, Gloria Rosenberg. The friendship blossomed and they were married June 21, 1953, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar.

In 1955, Newlin and Gloria moved to St. Ansgar where Newlin was office manager and accountant for the Rural Electric Cooperative (REC) for 31 years. Newlin was active in the St. Ansgar Lion's Club for many years and received the Melvin Jones award in 2008 for his dedicated service. Newlin served as president of the NIACC dorm board, president of the St. Ansgar school board and served many years as president of St. Ansgar Economic Development Corp. He was an active and faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar.

Newlin and Gloria were blessed with three children, Sue, Greg and Steve. They loved attending their children's many school activities. They enjoyed many family camping trips close to home, as well as camping throughout the United States. They also enjoyed two family trips to Europe. Most important to Newlin were his Christian faith and his family.

Newlin was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters; Maxine (Roger) Dodge, Doris (Herb) Kennedy, Ilah (Burnell) Groe and Yvonne Perkins.

Newlin is survived by Gloria, his loving wife of 62 years; daughter Sue (Mike) Urbatsch of Manly and their sons, Jake (Anneke) Urbatsch and their daughters, Ivy and Olivia of Northwood, and Luke Urbatsch of Ankeny; son Greg (Donna) Jensen of Woodbury, Minnesota, and their daughter Erika of Minneapolis and son Grady of Ames; son Steve (Marla) Jensen of Seattle, Washington and their sons Henry and Charlie; one sister, Sonia Ugland of Oologah, Oklahoma; and sister-in-law Shirley and Jerry Eide of Mason City; plus many nieces and nephews.

Blessed be Newlin's memory.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar. 641-713-4920. www.schroederandsites.com .

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 8 July 2015