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JAMES JENSEN Obituary
He was born Nov. 28, 1946, in Racine, Wis., the son of Marny and Joyce Jensen.
Rev. Jensen graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1969.
He graduated from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., in 1972.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1972 at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, Wis. He served parishes in Greenville, Mich., Joliet, Delavan, Wis., DeKalb and Hinsdale, prior to becoming rector of Grace Church, Utica, in 2001.
Rev. Jensen also served the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York as a member of the Executive Board and the Standing Committee.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn, of New Hartford; his son, Gregory Jensen of DeKalb; his step-son, John Buzzard, and step-daughter, Alison Buzzard, of New Hartford; a brother, Michael Jensen, and two sisters, Jeanne Jensen and Barbara Blackshear, all of Wisconsin; and his former wife, Bonnie Jensen of DeKalb.
He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Jerry Jensen.
The funeral will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Grace Church, Utica, where a Requiem Eucharist will be celebrated by the Rt. Rev. Gladstone B. Adams, III, Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Central New York. Calling hours will be 3-6 p.m. Thursday at Grace Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Church Music Fund or the Sisters of St. Margaret – Haiti.
For information, call Friedel Funeral Home at 315-724-6105.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for JAMES JENSEN
Susan Nichols
November 26, 2010
Kathy, although we've not met, Jim and I were friends from middle school through college--and beyond. With Thanksgiving comes his birthday and memories tumble out. I hope to meet you and visit his church. Susan
Linda LaFache
December 11, 2009
Kathy, I have continued to keep you and the family in my prayers. Please, if we can be of any help to you, remember that I am close by for anything you or your family may need. I'll be here should you ever feel you wish to give me a call for support or simply to know that you are cared for, respected and loved after many years of sharing our wonderful children. All my heartfelt condolences, Linda LaFache & family
Sandralee Thiele
December 5, 2009
Bonnie and Greg
I was saddened to read of Father Jensen's death in our Christ Church, Delavan, WI, December newsletter. Greg, because my daughter Patti was your babysitter way back when, your name has been brought up when talking with my special DeKalb friends--Noni and Ivan Jones.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family of Father Jensen as well as his many friends.
Kathryn Jensen
December 4, 2009
Thank you all for your expressions of sympathy for the members of Jim's family. We are all hurting from this tragic and sudden loss and very much appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
November 23, 2009
Hi Bonnie and Greg,
Please accept our sincere condolences. I know Jim's death was sudden and unexpected. It's never easy to accept a death, even with advance notice.
Our prayers and thoughts are with you both during this difficult time.
Love, Martia and Doug
Gretchen Schlabach
November 22, 2009
To the family of Father Jim Jensen: my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
With heartfelt sorrow
November 21, 2009
Greg and family. Our prayers are with you during this time.
Ken and Judy Thorgesen
Janie and Jim Torma
November 20, 2009
Dear Kathy, We are keeping you and the children in our prayers. I send a hug and lots of love, Janie and Jim
Howard Stidwill
November 20, 2009
I am genuinely sorry to have heard about the passing of Jim. I knew him at St. Paul's in DeKalb. He married my wife, Barbara, and I in Geneva/St. Charles Il. Jim had a great sense of humor, was totally honest and loved baptisms as witnessed in a site photo. My condolences to his family.
Linda & Tony & Anthony LaFache
November 19, 2009
To all your family, we are keeping you in our prayerrs at this most difficult time, that you are blessed with serenity and peace.
J L
November 18, 2009
I am so sorry for the loss of Fr. Jensen; he was an excellent pastor as I was growing up. His loss is a great loss for the church. My thoughts are with his family.
Katherine Reeves
November 18, 2009
Kathy, just wanted to say my family feel for you during your loss. Father Jensen just did my dads funeral, Jed Waterbury. I am glad we have an understanding and acceptance of what lies ahead and have comfort in that.
Mark & Linda Reynertson
November 18, 2009
Dear Kathy, No words can express our sadness and shock at this news. We are deeply sorry for your loss and remember how wonderful a couple you were and always will be.
We always think of how he helped support Mark and the music at Grace Church in Hinsdale. And also how pious and serious he was about the business of God. That impressed and inspired us so much.
Until you and he are reunited with God in heaven, we will pray for your peace and strength. Remember, love never dies.
With fondest prayers and love,
Mark & Linda
Peter & Christine
November 18, 2009
Our thoughts and prayers are will the Jensen family and the larger family of Grace Church in this time of tragic loss. Father Jensen was a great help to us in a time of crisis, and we shall never ever forget him.
Byron and Hester Stuhlman
November 17, 2009
Prayers were offered for Jim this Sunday at St. Andrew's Church, Newcastle, Maine, the parish of which we are now members. We remember Jim fondly from my days as rector of Grace Church, Waterville.
Father Jensen - Reagan's Baptism 9-20-2009
November 17, 2009
Bill+ & Dar Wheeler
November 17, 2009
Kathy, We were saddened to hear of Fr. Jim's passing. Dar and I attended
Grace as young people and were married there in 1957. We spent 34 years in the mid-West before retiring in 1993 to Boonville, NY where I served the Headwaters Mission for 8 years as Deacon. I became acquainted with Jim at various clergy meetings and I shared with him my numerous spiritual growth events at Grace. I am now serving as Priest/Vicar at Grace in Mohawk, NY. We continue to pray for you, your family and the Church Family at Grace/Utica. Fr. Bill & Dar Wheeler
Barb Finnegan
November 17, 2009
I'm very saddened at the news of Fr. Jensen's death. I used to work in the Utica Catholic Bookstore which is just a few doors down from Grace Church, and he came in from time to time to get items for the church. He always had a smile on his face, with a gentle sense of humor. I had gone several times to the choral services at Grace, and he always had a welcoming word for me, a Roman Catholic. Deepest sympathies to his wife and family, and to the members of his flock at Grace Church.
Christopher Williams
November 17, 2009
Jim will be missed by all of us at Grace Church Utica. He was an outstanding priest and friend who was always there for support.
Elizabeth Groskoph
November 17, 2009
Having been together as clergy, vesting and talking before Dorothy Pierce's Ordination in Chenango Bridge, we were so appreciative that Jim and his wife had driven all the way down from Utica for the event.
Jim simply replied that they "had to come" in support of us all. His death so soon afterward came as tremendous shock. We remember Jim as a person of great faith.
John & Roberta Karstetter
November 17, 2009
My prayers and sympathy to family and friends as we also mourn the death of Fr. Jensen. Fr. Jim was our priest at Christ Church, Delavan, WI many years ago (25 yrs ago). We were all saddened to hear of his passing when it was announced at Church on Sunday. Fr. Jim was instrumental in my life in Christ, accepting me just as I was then, inviting me to become more involved than I ever thought possible in a life with Christ.
Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In Christ's love, with fond memories of Fr. Jim,
Roberta Karstetter,
Parish Administrator/Christ Episcopal Church of Delavan, WI
Clinton Borden
November 16, 2009
Penny and I send our deepest sympathies to the family and parishoners of Father Jensen. He will be greatly missed
Don+ and Margaret Matthews
November 16, 2009
Kathy, please know that you and your family remain in our prayers and the prayers of Grace Church, Elmira, in these difficult and challenging days. Your husband represented the very best of what the priesthood could be for God's people and the world. May you know many blessings and comforts in the coming days.
November 16, 2009
Kathy, I was shocked and saddened to learn about Jim's death! Please accept my deepest sympathy and you will be in my prayers.
Fr John Lawrence
Ellen Anderson
November 16, 2009
Jim was a wonderful man and priest whose sermon at our 16 year old son's funeral got us through the next year as we grieved. We were fortunate to have him as our priest - his sermons where impactful and moving. A great person and great priest. My prayers are with his family in NY and in DeKalb IL
Susan Richards
November 16, 2009
Kathy, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
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