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Permanent LinkSenator John W. Jensen View All Years
JOHN W. JENSEN
John W. Jensen was born on March 28, 1926, in York, Nebraska, to Mathias and Bessie Jensen. He passed away on October 26, 2012, at the age of 86. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Myrtle; five children, Linda, and her husband Don; Alan and his wife, Joelle; Stanley, and his wife Teresa; Rita; and Carolann; ten grandchildren, Meredith, Jessica, Cody, Lucas, Adam, JaneAnn, Emily, Nick, Joshua, and Katie; and eleven great-grandchildren.
His family moved to northeast Iowa in 1941, where he graduated from Dike High School in 1977. After graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served two years in the South Pacific at the end of World War II.
He married Myrtle L. Shipp on May 29, 1948. Together they farmed northeast of Plainfield for over 60 years.
Jensen served as an Iowa Senator for 24 years. He made the restoration, conservation, and preservation of the State Capitol his personal passion and professional mission during his time in the Senate. He raised public and private funds for the purpose of returning the State Capitol to its full grandeur. He often gave “fifty-cent tours” for visiting students, constituents, fellow legislators, and state employees.
Jensen was an active member of many organizations. He was a Butler County Farm Bureau fieldsman for eight years and was a member of the Bremer County Farm Bureau, the Cattlemen’s Association, the Corn Growers Association, and the Soybean Association.
Jensen was a Bremer County Republican. He served in the Iowa Senate from 1979–2003 during the 68th, 69th, 70th, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, 74th, 75th, 76th, 77th, 78th, and 79th General Assemblies.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE EIGHTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable John W. Jensen, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.
MICHAEL BREITBACH
BILL DIX
AMANDA RAGAN
Committee