Oct. 7, 1930 - Dec. 6, 2008
A gathering will be held for Kenneth "Ken" Harold Jensen, 78, of Battleground, Wash., 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Lighthouse Beach .
Ken was born Oct. 7, 1930, in Portland. He died Dec. 6, 2008, in Vancouver, Wash., of complications of COPD, with his children by his side. He had lived in Battleground for the last three years to be closer to his three children, after living in Coos Bay for 55 years.
He graduated in 1947 from Washington High School, in Portland, where he played baseball and was in the A Capella choir, Eukrineon debate team, Order of W, and Hi Y. He went on to play pro baseball for five years and was coined "the next Babe Ruth" until an injury sidelined his professional career.
He came to Coos Bay in 1951 and played for the Coos Bay/North Bend Lumberjacks. He married Barbara Nasburg in 1952 and went to work and became part owner at Coos Bay Welder Supply with his uncles for the next 30-plus years. Following his retirement from Coos Bay Welders, he taught welding at Southwestern Oregon Community College for 10 years and became a state certifier for welding.
He was a member of the Coos Bay Pirates, president of the Jaycees, and a member of the Little Theatre on the Bay. In his retirement he also volunteered for the North Bend Fire Department.
Ken is survived by his daughter, Cindy Jensen Nordberg of Beaverton; sons, Dave Jensen of Battleground and Gus Jensen of Oregon City; grandsons, Darian Jensen, Joey Jensen; and granddaughters, Kelsey Jensen, Emily Nordberg and Julia Jensen.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Barb in 1983; and second wife, Andy in 1990.
Sign the guestbook at http://www.theworldlink.com.
This obituary was originally published in The World.
He was one of my favorite instructors in the welding program at Southwestern Oregon Community College. In fact, because of his encouragement, I kept going. School was hard for me, but I stuck with it in part because of Ken. I will always be grateful for him! God bless you, family of Ken. I am sure you will miss him alot!
Rowland Hammer
January 27, 2009 | Coos Bay, OR
Dear Cindy, Dave, and Gus,
My name is Sherry (Smith) Feakes. I am the daugther of Smitty and Ardelle Smith. My folks, along with Sterling started Coos Bay Welders Supply in 1953. I remember when Ken came to the Welder Supply as a very young man. We watched him play ball at North Bend. My dad taught him how to drive a big semi truck. Ken and Barb were a big part of our life. My folks were terribly fond of Ken and vice versa. When I was 13, Ken insisted that my first baby sitting...
Sherry Feakes
January 24, 2009 | Portland, OR
Cindy, Dave, & Gus:
Recently I was reminded of a fond memory I have of Uncle Ken showing my mother how to make hot dogs wrapped in Crescent rolls with a slice of cheese. Us three kids thought it was a fantastic meal to add to mom's collection. I even remember him adding a pickle. It is very heart warming memory I will carry through the rest of my life, along with all the family times shared. May all three of you hold on and cherish the fun times.
Jennifer Nasburg Dunn
January 23, 2009 | Lake Oswego, OR
I was so sorry to hear about Ken's passing. He was always so willing to work with the guys who came to the college needing welding certification. I enjoyed his stories and truly appreciated the work he did. Please accept my condolances.
Carol Todd
January 22, 2009 | Coos Bay, OR
Gus, Dave, and Cindy--
I have nothing but fond memories of your father; his laughter, common sense, and integrity enriched my life. He also, I know, made my mother Andy very happy.
I remember the many projects Ken and I undertook--some his and some mine. The simple ones were made complex, some the grandest feats of engineering. The complex ones were simplified. . . more difficult than the reverse for sure. And although we would both profess that it was the challenge of...
David Seip
January 21, 2009 | Eugene, OR
