Jimmy “Jim” Jensen
Passed: January 13, 2021
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Jimmy “Jim” Jensen
Passed: January 13, 2021
Obituary
Mr. Jimmy “Jim” Jensen, age 73 of Prior Lake, Minnesota passed away at home, surrounded by his family on January 13th, 2021 in Buckeye, Arizona after a valiant fight against Covid-19. He was a loving husband to his wife Pamela “Pam” Jensen and an amazing father, grandpa, and papa to his two daughters and five granddaughters.
He was born in Cook, MN August 2nd, 1947 to James and Marcella Jensen. Jim was the youngest of four children. He grew up on the Iron Range until he joined the army at the age of 18. Jim was sent to fight in Vietnam and was the recipient of two Purple Hearts.
Jim married Pamela Hokanson in Two Harbors, MN in 1970. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 1st. They moved to Kellogg, MN in 1972. Jim attended and graduated from Winona State University with a bachelor’s degree in business. Pamela taught at the local elementary school while they raised their two daughters, Tammy and Annie. Jim held various jobs over the years and ended his career as a self-employed woodcrafter.
In his younger days, you could find “Jumpin Jimmy Jensen” skiing down the hills at Coffee Mill Ski Area with his daughters. He enjoyed trapping with his dad, bow hunting, square dancing with his wife and friends, watching his daughters’ athletic events, and working in his garage on woodcrafts. He also loved time spent at the cabin up north with family and friends. Jim enjoyed fishing, boating and tooling around the old logging trails on four-wheelers. His granddaughters could always count on him to play games and read them book after book. Jim and Pam wintered in Buckeye, Arizona to be closer to Annie and her family. Four years ago, they sold their home in Kellogg, MN and moved to Prior Lake, MN to be closer to Tammy and her family.
His greatest love was family and he will be greatly missed by his. Jim is survived by his wife, Pam and two daughters, Tammy Higgins and Annie Shanahan, and two son-in-laws, Nate Higgins and Patrick Shanahan. He is survived by his five granddaughters: Celia Shanahan (14), Avari Higgins (14), Autumn Shanahan (12), Glory Shanahan (10), and Rilyn Higgins (10). He is also survived by his two brothers, Ronald (Barbara) Jensen, Donald (Patricia) Jensen, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Jim was proceeded in death by two infant daughters, his parents, James and Marcella Jensen and his older sister, Marlyn Kelly. Services will be held at a later date.
17 responses to Jimmy “Jim” Jensen
Gary & Sharon says:
January 22, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family!❤
Harriet Wien Olson says:
January 23, 2021
I was so saddened to read of Jim having succumbed to Covid. I went through all 12 years of school with Jim and hadn’t seen him since graduation but I am happy to read that he had such a good life with his loving family. My sympathies to his family.
Pam Jensen says:
February 11, 2021
Thank you for reaching out. He was well-loved and greatly missed.
Ginger says:
January 23, 2021
Although I haven’t seen Jim in many many years, I’ll always remember our high school years. He was a great friend and classmate. He had a ready smile and a twinkle in his eye, like a little kid looking for fun and mischief. Pretty sure the world was a better place with him in it!
Pam Jensen says:
February 11, 2021
Thank you for reaching out. He kept that twinkle in his eye and we often saw it as we were following him down trails on atvs.
Pat Townsend says:
January 23, 2021
Jim was a special man, both kind and funny. He was a wonderful brother-in-law and friend. I had the privilege of watching him as a friend, boyfriend and husband to my sister, father to Tammy and Annie, and grandfather to his flock of girls. He was great with my sons too. He left us too soon. He will be sorely missed.
Love,
Pat
Doyle Svedberg says:
January 24, 2021
I went to school with Jimmy for 12 years and have not known much about him since graduation, but reading his obituary I see what a classmate he was, serving our country in Viet Nam, in school Jimmy was not afraid of a fight of any kind and that may have prepared him for Viet Nam, now I see him as a classmate we from Cook Class of 66 I’m sure can all be proud of. We all lost a good friend, classmate, and our country lost a honorable man who chose to serve his country. My deepest sympathy to his family.