Obituary of Kenneth W. Jensen

Kenneth Willard Jensen December 18, 1930 - August 22, 2015 Resident of Carmel, California Ken was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Senn High School and the University of Illinois (with a master's degree), becoming a lifelong Chicago Cubs and University of Illinois sports fan. In fact, he earned a letter as a men's gymnastics manager for the Illini. As a six-year-old, he saw Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig play. Later in life, the Raiders became his favorite NFL team. He followed his parents to California in 1959 and moved to the Bay Area. Ken taught science at East Bay high schools for 32 years, including 21 at Castlemont High in Oakland (1959-69, 1980-1991). His expertise was entomology (study of insects). He was a very diligent teacher, and could be found grading papers many weekday evenings during the school year. Ken started going to First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley to find dates. Instead, he found his first love - Jesus Christ - and his lifelong love, Rowena. They were married on Aug. 3, 1963 and had their first son (Philip) in 1965, followed by sons Steve (1967) and Michael (1970). Ken was passionate about his family … although he was a disciplinarian, he had an open-door policy with his boys, who knew they could talk to their father about anything. All his vacations were family vacations. Ken modeled dedicated church giving and involvement, as it was rare that there was a church service that he and his family were not in attendance. He would attend as many of his sons' sports and school events as he could. He was a quiet but supportive bystander at those events, always proud of his sons. In his sons' early years, he would pitch batting practice to them and throw the football around with them. Ken and Rowena retired to the family's home in Carmel in 1999. During the past decade, Ken was a dedicated caregiver for Rowena. Ken's love for God was shown in his love for all the people around him. There were no strangers in Ken's life - only friends. He made it a rule to know everybody's first and last names, including the employees at his local bank and grocery store. He believed a good neighbor was a caring neighbor, as he learned to know those who lived around him. Once Ken got to know you, he trusted you unquestionably. Later in life, he filled a large calendar with birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions of people he knew, and tried to send cards to all of them. At the same time, he also tried to send graduation cards to recent high school graduates he knew, reaching across generations. He wasn't a bystander in his Christian walk - he rolled up his sleeves and actively lived the Christ-like life. He held a weekly Christian meeting in his home for elementary-aged youth. He led a monthly church service at a convalescent home. He would periodically visit rescue missions in Oakland and San Jose. He was a regular usher. Later, he would lead a weekly seniors Christian group in his church. He loved all his Christian brothers and sisters with a whole-hearted love. Cancer claimed Ken's life, but it could not squelch his impact on the numerous lives he touched. Ken was a man of love, loving (in this order) Jesus Christ, his family and those around him. Ken passed away at the age of 84. He was the loving husband of Rowena L. Jensen; devoted father to son Philip Willard Jensen and daughter-in-law Laura Louise Jensen, both of Hayward, and sons Steve Jensen and Michael Jensen, both of Portland, Oregon. He is also survived by two cousins. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Edward Willard Jensen and Leona Jensen, and his sister Valerie Heron. Visitation will be at Seaside Funeral Home, 1915 Ord Grove Ave., Seaside on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral service will be on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 11 a.m. at Monterey Bay Christian Center, 1184 Hilby Ave., Seaside with burial to follow at Mission Memorial Park, 1915 Ord Grove Ave., Seaside.