James “Jim” L. Jensen, Sr., 90, of Givens Hot Springs, Idaho, passed away at home and graduated to Heaven February 5, 2020.
Jim was the son of Niels & Minnie (Pfeiffer) Jensen and was born in Boise, Idaho November 20, 1929. He grew up in the Pierce Park neighborhood attending elementary school there and highschool in Boise, finally graduating from Eagle High School in 1947.
He joined the Army in 1949 and served as a military guard at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland, Washington. There he eventually met the love of his life Jesse Joann McDonald. They married in 1952 and settled down in Boise to begin their family. They had four sons, James Jr. “Skip”, Wayne, Mark, and Gordon “Joe”. Jim was a dedicated outdoorsman, hiking, fishing, and hunting for elk and deer. He took his family camping and fishing throughout the summers. They moved to Alaska in 1964 right after the big earthquake. Jim worked for the United States Post Office in Eagle River but always said the reason they went to Alaska was because Joann wanted to be a missionary to the eskimos. He built their home on Lore Road, Anchorage, AK and enjoyed all that the outdoors Alaska had to offer including a successful bighorn sheep hunt in the late 60’s. In 1972 Jim and Joan visited Japan with a group from their Anchorage church.
Jim moved his family back to Idaho in the summer of 1972 where they bought the ranch near Givens Hot Springs, calling it “Hardtrigger Ranch” for the creek that passes through the property. Jim enjoyed old buildings & history, his faithful canine companions, the outdoors, hunting, fishing, & camping. The only games he liked to play were Hearts and Rook, he was very skilled at both. He loved the Lord, faithfully praying for family every night with Joann, and was involved in his church, serving as church treasurer & deacon at different points in his life. He loved his children, grandchildren, and delighted in his many great grandchildren. He was a kind & quiet man often referring to the “Wise Old Owl” poem as the reason why. He enjoyed a witty remark and gently teasing grandkids. He is loved as an inspiration and patriarch of the family - always full of hope and never complaining. His most recent adventure was a trip back to Alaska for his birthday in November, 2019 where he met the youngest additions, had outings with his Alaska sons in Prince William Sound and drank up the joy of so many of his family there.
He leaves behind his children: James Jr. “Skip” (Robin) Jensen of Cordova, Alaska; daughter-in-law Maggie, widow of Wayne Jensen of Wasilla, Alaska; Mark (Angela) Jensen of Givens Hot Springs, Idaho; Gordon (Debbie) Jensen of Cordova, Alaska; 17 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Joann, son Wayne Jensen, parents Niels, & Minnie, siblings Wilbur Jensen (WWII), Dorothy Jensen Pugmire, Niels Jensen Jr., and Juliene Jensen Southwick.
Services will be held on Tuesday, February 18th, at 11:00 a.m. at Dakan Funeral Chapel. There will be a reception immediately following the services at Dakan Community Center.
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