Donald LeRoy Jensen

Donald “Don” LeRoy Jensen, age 94, passed away serenely at Galeon Senior Living on March 23rd, 2024. Don was the first of five children born May 30th, 1929 to Charles Roy Jensen and Ethel (Laudahl) Jensen, in St. Crois Falls Township, Wisconsin. Don spent many of his adolescent years helping haul milk with his dad. He then went on to graduate from Osceola High, May 29th 1947.

Following graduation, he drove truck for a little over four years for the Jensen Transfer company. Don also played town baseball for the Osceola Braves alongside Bud Grant. He then served his country in the Korean war as a medical aidman from May 1951 to February 1953, where he earned the Korean Service Medal, a bronze star, UN service medal, and a medical Badge.

Shortly after the war, he met his future wife Gloria Jean Covey. They were married October 8th, 1954. They began their family in Osceola and he worked at Champion Aircraft of Osceola, WI. In 1967, he moved his family to Osakis, Minnesota where he transferred to Bellanca Aircraft of Alexandria. After the kids graduated high school, Don and Jean bought a greenhouse in 1977 where he made wreaths and roping and learned different gardening skills. After 15 years, they sold the greenhouse but Don kept his love of gardening. He retired from Bellanca Aircraft in 1993, but continued working for Anderson Greenhouse where he specialized in dirt mixing, plant transplanting, tree trimming, and cemetery urn placement.

Don had many things in his life to be proud of. Not only was he a lifetime member of the Lion’s Club, but he was one of the founding members of the Osakis Lion’s Club. Don was very proud of his service to his country and was a member of the VFW and volunteered at the monthly fish fry as the dishwasher. Don enjoyed golfing, gardening, fly fishing, woodworking, playing games, and warm Schell’s Beer. He even thought of himself as a beer connoisseur. He was an avid card player, enjoying games of 500 or cribbage. In his later years, he looked forward to playing Bingo at Galeon. Don was also a huge sports fan and a life-long Packers fan (with the Vikings being his second choice).

Don is preceded in death by his wife, Jean; parents, Roy and Ethel; his sisters, Dorothy Parker and Joyce Brandt; his brother, Charles Jensen; and grandson, Dallas Jr. Womack.

Don is survived by his brother Robert Jensen; four children, Robin (Dan) Dylla of Eden Prairie, MN, Leslie (Dallas Sr) Womack of San Antonio, TX , Mark (Leah) Jensen of Lakeville, MN, and Diane (Marlin) Fay of Grand Meadow, MN; his 11 grandchildren, Heather Dylla, Evan (Annsley) Dylla, Nina (James) Ryan, Stephanie Womack, Charles (Kendi) Womack, Tim (Rochelle) Fay, Cassie Hinrichs, Zach (Danielle) Fay, Abbie (Jordan) Hoyle, Alec (Sarah) Jensen, and Carly (Zach) Richter; and his 22 great-grandchildren.