Jeff Clifford Jensen
July 11, 1951 ~ April 20, 2013
Our dear sweet husband, dad, papa, uncle, brother and best friend, Jeff Clifford Jensen, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2013 of causes due to a hard fought battle against a rare form of cancer. In Jeff's battle against this horrible disease, he taught us about courage, love, patience, hope, faith and dignity. Jeff (or Jedi as he was known to close family and friends), was born in Seattle, Washington on July 11, 1951 to Sterling Moroni and Betty Marie Ballard Jensen. He grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and Eugene, Oregon. He attended Curtis Elementary, Clayton Jr. High, Highland High and graduated from South Eugene High School in Eugene, Oregon in 1970.
He met his future wife and sweetheart, Diane Wagner Jensen, while attending Clayton Jr. High in the seventh grade. They married on March 22, 1970 in Elko, Nevada. Theirs was a love story that encompassed many ups, downs and trials and lasted 43 wonderful years. Their journey together was blessed with children: Justin Ballard Jensen (Kristina); Thaddeus Eric Jensen (Michelle); Brody Shane Jensen (Angela); and Rachel Diane Torres (Jimmy). Jeff's heart was completely filled when it came to the birth of his special grandchildren: Cody Joseph Jensen, Talon Jeff Jensen, Broc Curtis Jensen, Meghan Elizabeth Jensen, Alexia Grace Jensen and Aaliyah Taina Jensen. He was looking forward to the birth of his new granddaughter, Piper Elizabeth Jensen who is due to be born in June. Jeff could be having a difficult time as he struggled with his health, but when his grandchildren arrived for a visit, his heart just melted. Everything else paled in comparison to the love he felt for them.
Jeff loved the mountains and especially the ocean on the Oregon coast. He and Diane just recently spent time traveling to Oregon, where they enjoyed the beauty of the pine-covered mountains and the serenity of the ocean in Newport Beach. He claimed he could "feel his Viking heritage" when he sat next to the ocean. They celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary last month as they reminisced about their life, love and time spent together. Jeff's passions included football, golf, history and music, but his biggest passion was time spent with his family. He looked forward to our holiday celebrations with great anticipation. He loved being able to support his children in their endeavors in sports, music, dance and love of history. He was the best dad and papa ever.
Jeff was an electrician by trade and worked for the Salt Lake City Reclamation Plant, from where he retired after 30 years of dedicated service. He was known for his honesty and integrity and was a wonderful mentor to his co-workers. He formed many life long friendships there that he truly treasured.
We will miss his smile, his laugh, his wonderful sense of humor, his kind eyes and hands, but mostly his great hugs. Jeff was a member of the LDS Church. His spirituality and the great example he set for his family was especially evident in his last days as he shared his knowledge of "the gift of total enlightenment" that he received just prior to his passing. He testified to the promise of eternal life, the power of forgiveness, the importance of service to our fellow man and the pure love of God.
Jeff loved and is also survived by siblings: David (Rose) Jensen; Mark (Bonnie) Jensen; Joan (David) Suazo; Steve (Sly) Jensen; Birgitta Jensen/Leggett and Sigrid Puckett. Also survived by stepmother: Mathilda Jensen. He is loved and survived by Diane's family including Scott (Heidi) Wagner; Denise (Rodney) Ursin; Lane (Lupe) Wagner and Robert (Candy) Wagner. He is loved by many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends who he considered family. He is preceded in death by his parents: Sterling Moroni and Betty Marie Jensen, his in-laws (who he loved as his own): Joseph Jacob and June Grace Wagner, his sister-in-law: Susan Deon Wagner; and his special little twin granddaughters: Aubrey and Destiny Jensen (Thad's girls) that he was so looking forward to holding in his arms.
A special thank you to Brian and Suzy of Quality Solace Services for their superb dedication to our family in our time of need. Also a special thank you to special friends Rob and Jody Morgan, Steve and Rosie Gallenson, Kim Potter, Jim Turcsanski, Chris Hall and all extended family and Jeffs work family who have supported us and especially Jeff in his last days.