Roy H. JORGENSEN

JORGENSEN, HANSEN, CLAUSSEN, MUDD, POMERVILLE, HAYS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/26/2008 at 09:29:37

Roy H. Jorgensen, 92, dedicated professional career to education

Roy H. Jorgensen was born on a farm at Eagle Grove, Iowa, May 14, 1916, as the youngest of seven children born to John and Gertie (Hansen) Jorgensen. He grew up on a farm near Eagle Grove, Iowa, attended a one-room rural school, and graduated from Eagle Grove High School. After high school, he attended Eagle Grove Junior College and transferred to Iowa State Teacher's College - now the University of Northern Iowa at Cedar Falls. Then, he began his teaching career at Parkersburg, Iowa. He also taught school at Colfax, Iowa, where he met his future wife, Pearl Claussen.

Roy and Pearl were married April 12, 1945. Roy's teaching career was interrupted by WWII, as he enlisted in the Army Signal Corps in 1942 and later transferred to the Army Air Force. He was given special training in electronic communications at Yale University, was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, and was then sent to the India-Burma Theatre of the war, where he served until the end of hostilities. During and after WWII, Roy continued his interest and study in education. He received a master's degree in school administration from Northwestern University and a doctorate in education degree in school administration from the University of Wyoming in 1955. He served as high school principal at Sac City, Iowa; dean of men at Nebraska State College at Kearney, Nebraska; assistant professor of education and supervisor of student teachers at Minnesota State College in Mankato, Minnesota; professor of school administration and director of the Teacher Placement Bureau at the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks; and he then came to Warrensburg [Missouri] in 1963 to serve as chairman of what was then the Department of Education and Psychology. He retired from Central in 1981 as dean emeritus of teacher education. Dr. Jorgensen belonged to several professional organizations and honor societies and was 45-year member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, where he held several church offices, including president of the congregation.

To mourn his passing, Roy leaves his wife of 62 years, Pearl, of Warrensburg, a son, John and his wife, Marilyn, of Punta Gorda, Fla.; a daughter, Janet and husband David Mudd of Warrensburg. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Paul Jorgensen of Parkville, Mo., Elizabeth Ann Jorgensen of Orlando, Fla., Melissa Mudd of Columbia, Mo., Mallory Pomerville and husband Luke of Sportsylvania, Va. and Macae Mudd of Warrensburg; one niece, Lavonne Hays of Tucson, Ariz.; one nephew, John R. Jorgensen of Glenville, Ill.; and many friends and neighbors.

Visitation will be 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb.28, at the Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Friday, Feb. 29 at 2 p.m. and burial at the Warrensburg [Missouri]Memorial Gardens Cemetery with full military honors provided by the American Legion Post 131 and VFW Post 2513. Pallbearers are Paul Jorgensen, Don Hayden, Gary Turner, Bob Ohrenberg, Chuck Heiss and Rick Mills. Honorary pallbearers are Perry McCandless, Charlie Keseman, Harold Sampson, Art Norton, Bob Boyd, Larry Haase and Ted Garten. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or the Warrensburg Education Foundation and may be left in care of the funeral home.

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