Joseph L. Jensen
August 19, 1916 — October 10, 2010
Joseph L. Jensen
Joseph L. Jensen Jr. died on Sunday October 10 at the age of 94, in his home in Hanover Pennsylvania. A memorial service will be held at Valley Forge Presbyterian Church, 191 Town Center Road, King of Prussia, on Saturday, October 30 at 11:00 a.m.
Joe was born in Quincy Illinois on August 19, 1916, the fourth of five children of Clara Lauster Jensen and Joseph Lehigh Jensen Sr. After graduating from Carroll College in Waukesha Wisconsin, he enrolled in Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating in 1943. He then enlisted in the Navy, and married Ethel M. Sprague shortly before leaving for active duty. He was the commanding officer of a PT boat, participating in the D-Day invasion of Normandy and in the Pacific theater. Joe's war experiences, about which he rarely spoke, promoted his future advocacy for peace.
After the war, he began his career in the ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Mason City Illinois, followed by service to First Presbyterian Church in Miami Florida, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton Ohio, and Valley Forge Presbyterian Church in King of Prussia PA, from which he retired in 1984 after 22 years. Joe was committed to the practical application of his religious beliefs, dedicating much of his efforts to pastoral counseling and to social activism, particularly civil rights and international peace. At times he risked his own security by participating in non-violent civil disobedience. In 1991 Joe received the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award for humanitarian service and public works, especially for his work with the Upper Merion Fair Housing Committee.
However, do not allow the seriousness of his life work to belie his natural sparkle, good humor, optimism and fun-loving spirit. “Anybody for a squash game?”
After "retirement" Joe and Ethel spent a total of fifteen years working at colleges around the country, including Linfield College, University of Tampa, Gettysburg College, Ringling School of Art and Design, and finally at Dickinson College in Carlisle PA, where they worked for nine years. In 2005 they moved to Homewood at Plum Creek in Hanover.
Joe is survived by Ethel, his wife of 66 years; his brother Bob; children Joe, Mary, Lynn, and Mark; and eight grandchildren.
When Joe was a pastor, friends and family contributed to a special fund that he used at his discretion to help individuals and families in crisis. At the request of the Jensen family, Reverend James Gilchrist has agreed to create and manage a similar fund in his own parish, based on Joe's example, and seeded by memorial contributions in lieu of flowers. (Reverend James Gilchrist, c/o Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2040 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh PA 15241)
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Joe was born in Quincy Illinois on August 19, 1916, the fourth of five children of Clara Lauster Jensen and Joseph Lehigh Jensen Sr. After graduating from Carroll College in Waukesha Wisconsin, he enrolled in Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating in 1943. He then enlisted in the Navy, and married Ethel M. Sprague shortly before leaving for active duty. He was the commanding officer of a PT boat, participating in the D-Day invasion of Normandy and in the Pacific theater. Joe's war experiences, about which he rarely spoke, promoted his future advocacy for peace.
After the war, he began his career in the ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Mason City Illinois, followed by service to First Presbyterian Church in Miami Florida, Westminster Presbyterian Church in Dayton Ohio, and Valley Forge Presbyterian Church in King of Prussia PA, from which he retired in 1984 after 22 years. Joe was committed to the practical application of his religious beliefs, dedicating much of his efforts to pastoral counseling and to social activism, particularly civil rights and international peace. At times he risked his own security by participating in non-violent civil disobedience. In 1991 Joe received the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award for humanitarian service and public works, especially for his work with the Upper Merion Fair Housing Committee.
However, do not allow the seriousness of his life work to belie his natural sparkle, good humor, optimism and fun-loving spirit. “Anybody for a squash game?”
After "retirement" Joe and Ethel spent a total of fifteen years working at colleges around the country, including Linfield College, University of Tampa, Gettysburg College, Ringling School of Art and Design, and finally at Dickinson College in Carlisle PA, where they worked for nine years. In 2005 they moved to Homewood at Plum Creek in Hanover.
Joe is survived by Ethel, his wife of 66 years; his brother Bob; children Joe, Mary, Lynn, and Mark; and eight grandchildren.
When Joe was a pastor, friends and family contributed to a special fund that he used at his discretion to help individuals and families in crisis. At the request of the Jensen family, Reverend James Gilchrist has agreed to create and manage a similar fund in his own parish, based on Joe's example, and seeded by memorial contributions in lieu of flowers. (Reverend James Gilchrist, c/o Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2040 Washington Rd., Pittsburgh PA 15241)
PDF Printable Version
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