Edwin “Eddie” Ronald Jensen, 87, of Atlantic, Iowa, died June 13, 2024, at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
Eddie was born on January 8, 1937, on a farm near Marne, Iowa. He was the son of Wolmer and Ruth (Gardner) Jensen and one of six children. Eddie graduated from Atlantic High School in 1955. On June 23, 1968, he was united in marriage to Sondra K. Bissell at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. Together they had four children, Daniel, Angela, Jason and Nathan.
At age 15, Eddie began working on the Rock Island Railroad. After graduation, he began working as a carpenter and built homes for 65 years and never really retired.
Eddie was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic where he served on many committees over the years and was an Elder at the time of his death.
Eddie enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, gardening, wood carving, as well as playing cards and Farkle with his wife. He and Sondra enjoyed traveling on many cruises and bus trips, covering all fifty states and several countries. He cherished spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Eddie will always be remembered as a very devoted husband and father. He lived the principle that God gives us our abilities, our time, our talents and our gifts.
Eddie is survived by his wife, Sondra (Bissell) Jensen; children, Daniel (Patricia) Jensen, Angela (Joseph) Kooiker, Jason (Cindy) Jensen, Nathan (Sara) Jensen and four children from a previous marriage, JoBeth Harden, Joel (Linda) Douglas, Jill Churchill, and Jane (Doug) Shafer; his 21 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; sister, Kathryn Illian; and sister-in-law, Miriam Jensen.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Wolmer and Ruth Jensen; siblings, Helen (Lyle) Pigg, Mary Ellen (John) O’Rourke, Marjorie (Burdette) Baxter, and Owen Jensen; brother-in-law, Donald Illian; son-in-law, Steven Harden; and great-grandchildren, Jett Ballard and Noah Ballard.
Eddie believed there would be a better time coming – in eternity.
A time to greet family will begin at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 18th, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Pastor Kyle McBee, of Zion Lutheran Church, will preside over the services. Immediately after the service a luncheon will be held in the church fellowship hall, with burial taking place in the Atlantic Cemetery after the luncheon.
The funeral service will be recorded and available for viewing on the Roland Funeral Service website at www.rolandfuneralservice.com by Wednesday afternoon.
Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Eddie’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
