Shane Jensen

My dearest, sweet Shane, 51, passed away on February 19, 2026, at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. We were in the midst of the greatest battle of our lives, fighting with everything we had for a heart and lung transplant. We were so close. But because of a one-in-a-million cancer diagnosis, our fight was unexpectedly cut short.

And yet, those final months, especially our sacred time at Stanford, will forever be cherished. They were filled with unity, fierce love, tender mercies, and the kind of closeness that only comes when a family rallies around one of their own.

Shane has always been a fighter.

He was born in Portland, Oregon to Gary and Debra Jensen and grew up surrounded by his siblings, Kevin and Kendra, cousins, and devoted grandparents. At just three years old, Shane was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. What followed were two grueling years of hospitals, chemotherapy, radiation, and invasive surgeries. His parents and siblings endured it all with remarkable strength as they fought for their little boy's life.

And Shane fought too.

At age five, he went into remission. He went on to have a wonderful childhood, playing sports, riding bikes, and spending time with his childhood friends. But at fourteen, the treatments that had saved his life delivered another challenge: heart failure, a long-term side effect of the very medicine that preserved him.

Still, Shane refused to be defined by limitations.

He found ways to participate in life fully and creatively. Whether it was riding skateboards, electric bikes, using his "bionic legs," or simply adapting when necessary, Shane chose living over merely existing.

He attended Midwestern University, earning his Doctor of Pharmacy degree. After graduation, he began working at Family Plaza Pharmacy. Within five years, he purchased the pharmacy and became a business owner, a lifelong dream realized in true Shane fashion. When he set his mind to something, he made it happen.

For over twenty years, Family Plaza Pharmacy has been Shane's home away from home. He wasn't just a pharmacist, he was a mentor, advocate, practitioner, and friend. He built one of the largest hospice-providing pharmacies in Utah, something he was deeply proud of. His commitment to customer service and compassionate patient care shaped the culture of the entire organization. We hold immense love and gratitude for the Family Plaza Pharmacy team; they are family to us.

Throughout his career, Shane served as President of the Utah Pharmacy Association, held consulting roles with WSPC, lobbied at the state capitol for his profession, and mentored countless pharmacy students. He was a leader in every sense of the word: steady, visionary, and generous with his time and wisdom.

But if you knew Shane, you knew work was only part of his story.

He loved to travel. He loved good food. He loved adventure. Most of all, he loved his people.

His health challenges gave him a rare perspective; he never took life for granted. He lived it boldly. He paraglided in the Swiss Alps and traveled through Europe. He swam in open water with sharks and whale sharks. He ventured into the wilds of northern Quebec on a caribou/bear hunt. He road tripped through Iceland. And he adored 83-degree beach days in Hawaii, so much so that when his kids dared him one morning to just go, he boarded a plane that day and spent five days in Hawaii by himself. A legend, truly.

Shane's greatest joy, however, was his family.

During his hospital stay, his face would light up as he spoke about his four daughters, his three sons-in-law, and the two new grand babies arriving this spring. He fiercely loved his wife, Lyndsay. They were the perfect team for almost 30 years. He was loyal beyond measure and would drop everything at a moment's notice to show up for his family. He was the very best version of a husband and father. The patriarch. The provider. The steady one. We have been profoundly blessed to be led and loved by him.

Shane trusted deeply in his Heavenly Father's plan. He was a devoted disciple of Christ. His faith and hope in our Savior was the driving force throughout his life. Over these last six months, he leaned into that faith more than ever. He found peace in surrendering to God's will, trusting that there was purpose even in the pain. His strength anchored our family. We trust the plan. Ether 12:27.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the heart failure team at Intermountain Medical Center, especially: Amanda, Dr. Amjad, and Dr. Buchek, all who fought tirelessly for Shane. To all the nurses and the ICU teams, you truly are angels on earth. Thank you to Life Flight for safely carrying us to Stanford when time was critical. And to the ICU J2 team at Stanford, you will forever hold a sacred place in our hearts. You cared for Shane with skill, compassion, and even a touch of "boujee" flair that suited him perfectly. You cried with us, and that meant everything.

We believe families are eternal. Though he was taken far too early, we are profoundly grateful for nearly fifty years with him after his childhood cancer diagnosis. Every year was a gift. Every memory sacred.

Our time at Stanford, though filled with heartbreak, was holy ground for our family. We would not trade those final moments of closeness for anything.

Shane is survived by his beloved wife, Lyndsay; his daughters Shelby (Carson Davis), Sage (Cade Mills), Lexi (Jordan Day), and Libby; and two precious grandchildren arriving this spring. He is also survived by his parents, Gary and Debra Jensen; his siblings, Kevin (Belinda) and Kendra (Josh Storz); his in-laws, Bruce and Jean Hammond; and many in-laws, nieces, and nephews who love him deeply.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Darla and Judson Tolman, Verl and Madge Jensen, Betty and Paul Ahlstrom, and Jay and Kona Hammond, along with dear friends who were surely there to welcome him home.

We love you forever, Shane. We will count the days until we are together again.

We invite those who knew and loved Shane to gather for a viewing on Friday, February 27, 6:00–8:00 p.m. at 5562 W 13680 S, Riverton, Utah 84096. Funeral services will follow on Saturday, February 28, at 12:00 p.m., with a brief viewing from 10:30–11:30 a.m.

To watch live streaming of funeral service use this link below:

https://youtube.com/live/mZ7soG5LxJA