Dr. John H. Jensen
March 22, 1936-July 5, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 11:10 AM PDT
Kuna
Dr. John H. Jensen, 73, passed away at home on Sunday, July 5, 2009, surrounded by his loving family after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
John was born to Dorothy Mowrey and John H. Jensen Sr. on March 22, 1936, in Cadillac, Mich. John’s mother, widowed at 18, married Russell Austin. John had 12 brothers and sisters from that marriage.
John married Hattie Mae Lowe in 1957, having one son, John H. (Yvonne) Jensen III. In 1962, John married Judith Bond and adopted her three children: Jeffery Jensen (Wendy Shendledecker), Richard Jon Jensen and Carla (Dan) Sanford. They were blessed with two children, Elisabeth (Richard) Malerich and Nancy (Martin) Espinoza. John married Linnie Cowan in 1977. They shared 31 beautiful years together and completed the family with one son, James D. (Sharina) Jensen. He was blessed with eight grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren.
John was preceded in death by his mother and father; brothers, Freeman and Jimmy Austin; his wives, Hattie Mae and Judith; and son Rickey Jensen.
After graduating from Mesick High School in Michigan, he went to Western Michigan University to earn a bachelor's degree in social science followed by a master of science in elementary education. He then attended the University of Oregon to gain his Ph.D. in elementary education.
His military service was with the Michigan Army National Guard as sergeant E-5 with the 156th Signal Battalion, which was called into duty when the Berlin Wall was constructed.
John was employed by Boise State University from 1967 until June of 2000, when he retired. During his employment at BSU, he served as a professor of education, department chairman, director of the Center for Multicultural and Educational Opportunities and interim associate dean of the department of education. After retiring, he became an assistant to the president of Treasure Valley Community College (2000 to 2009), where he was able to help people continue their education. John was proud of his work with the High School Equivalence Program and College Migrant Assistant Program, which provided education to students of migrant farm laborers and first generation college students. John developed a talent for writing grants to fund his passion for first-generation college students.
John was the first recipient of the Larry Selland Humanitarian Award given at BSU. This was especially meaningful because of the long time friendship he shared with Larry.
John was an avid outdoorsman and loved to fish and hunt with his family. His love for the outdoors was infectious, and he mentored many youth through the Boy Scouts. His favorite BSA position was scoutmaster, however, he held many positions over the years. He received his Silver Beaver in 1998 and was inducted into the Ore-Ida Council Boy Scouts Hall of Fame in 2008.
John was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in the bishopric at the time of his death.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the John Jensen Migrant Education Scholarship at Boise State University or the John Jensen Memorial Fund at the Boy Scouts of America.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2009, in the Kuna 6th Ward LDS Chapel, 3305 W. Kuna Road, Kuna. A viewing will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. today (Tuesday) at the church and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services on Wednesday. Interment will be at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. Arrangements are by Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa, (208) 467-7300.
