Maxine Jenson

Orpha Maxine (Johnson) Jenson was born October 21, 1929, to Arthur and Edith (Hebb) Johnson in Pisgah, Iowa. Maxine graduated from Pisgah High School in 1947. She attended Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa for two years and graduated from Drake University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Maxine taught music in Alta, Iowa for two years before moving to Chicago, Illinois. There she worked at the Midway Airport with her cousin Betty Kirk. While in Chicago, her grandmother invited a young man home for lunch after church, this young man was Roland Jenson. As they participated in Zion League's activities at Stone Church, their friendship grew into love. On May 10, 1957, Maxine married "Rollie" at the Stone Church in Independence, Missouri. The couple lived in Independence for 57 years. Maxine was a stay at home mother and a part time music teacher for the Independence School District with various other jobs. The couple moved to Woodbine, Iowa in 2014 to be closer to family. Rollie died on March 12, 2015. Maxine was a member of the Community of Christ. Over the years she taught Sunday school, was a choir director, head of VBS, woman's leader, and sang for many weddings, funerals and church services. Maxine sang in the Cantanina's and in the Messiah Choir for 50 years. One of her greatest joys was singing at Carnegie Hall in New York City with the Messiah. The couple loved to travel, work in their garden/yard and bird watch. They especially enjoyed their Sunday afternoon car rides together. Maxine loved her faith and family; she made friends with everyone she met. Maxine died on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at Rose Vista Assisted Living in Woodbine, Iowa at the age of 88 years, three months, and 20 days. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roland Jenson; cousin, Betty Kirk; brother-in-law, John Humphrey; and sister-in-law, Laura Johnson. She is survived by her son, Roger Jenson and his wife Meredith of Pisgah, Iowa; twin daughters, Lynnette and her husband Curtis Lee of Woodbine, Iowa and Lana and her husband Craig Parrish of San Diego, California; nine grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sister, Eileen Humphrey of St. George, Utah; brother, Gordon Johnson of Flint, Michigan; nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.