Richard James Jensen

Apr. 17, 1929 - Jan. 26, 2006

Richard J. "Dick" Jensen, 76, of Elkhart, passed away Thursday, January 26, at 11:53 a.m. in Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born April 17, 1929, in Graceville, Minnesota, to Charles and Hilma (Olson) Jensen. He first married Joan R. Boudreau, who preceded him in death on December 6, 1986. He married Dreama G. Wiseman Harrell on November 14, 1987, in Elkhart. She survives, along with daughters, Carol (Jim) West of Elkhart, Cheryl (Brent) Farmer of Bristol, Marcia (Tim) Pratt of Elkhart, Kimberly (John) Dooley of Goshen; and son, Colonel Jeffrey (Susan) Harrell of Clovis, N.M.; grandchildren, Julie (Tony) Cook, Tim (Erika) Pratt, Sara Pratt, Morgan West, Taylor West, Erika Dooley and Jessica Dooley; and a great-grandson, Braden Cook. A brother, Donald (Joyce) Jensen of South Bend also survives. A brother, Charles Jensen preceded him in death.

He was a graduate of John Adams High School in South Bend and took classed at Indiana University, Purdue University and the University of Tennessee.

Mr. Jensen had a long and illustrious record of achievement as both a business and community leader. He had served with distinction with fraternal organizations, schools, and charities. Mr. Jensen was retired vice president of Elkhart General Hospital. Prior to joining the hospital, he worked at First Bank and Trust Co. (now 1st Source Bank) and Tower Federal Savings and Loan Association in South Bend and Elkhart. At Tower, he was executive vice president. After he retired from Elkhart General Hospital, he went to work for Century 21 Landmark Realty Group where he also retired.

Before his time in the boardroom, he was on the ball field pitching for the Chicago Cubs.

Mr. Jensen's involvement in community affairs is legendary. He was a member of First Congregational Church, Elkhart, The Elkhart Rotary Club and Elkhart Elks Lodge 425. He was on the board of directors for the Elkhart Community Bank. He served on the Building Corporation of the Elkhart Community School Corp., and was a member of the Board of the Better Business Bureau of Northeastern Indiana and Real Services. He was currently on the board and the executive vice president of the Elkhart General Hospital Foundation.

Over the years, he had served as a board member and board president of the Elkhart Credit Bureau, Elkhart Chamber of Commerce and YMCA. He was a member of the board of trustees of the Elkhart Community School Corp., form 1972 to 1992, and the board president from 1975 to 1984. Mr. Jensen was on the board, served as president and campaign chair of the United Way of Elkhart Co. Inc. He was an advisory board member of the Salvation Army and on the board and board president of ADEC.

Mr. Jensen had been a board member of the Neighborhood Housing Services of South Bend, Junior Achievement and Ivy Tech State College. He was district chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, vice president of Vocation Building Trades Association, chair and board member of the Elkhart Elks, and a member of the CTS Foundation scholarship committee.

He received the Art Decio Volunteer of the Year Award, Distinguished Friend of ADEC, Citizen of the Year from the Elkhart Lions, the Mary Briggs Award from the Elkhart County Labor Council-Elkhart County UAW, and the Outstanding Boardmanship from the Indiana School Board Association. He received the Indiana University South Bend School of Business and Economics, Lewis S. Armstrong Award in 2003-2004.

Friends may call from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday in Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday. Reverend Richard Kallenberg of St. John's Episcopal Church and Reverend Anne Cubbage of First Congregational Church will officiate. Cremation will follow services.

Memorials may be given to ADEC or to National Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.

Published in the South Bend Tribune on January 28, 2006.

11/20/2023 DEC