Russell Jensen

Russell Judd Jensen, age 73, of Big Rapids, formerly of Trufant and Grand Rapids, passed away unexpectedly at his home. The son of Russell H. & Emma D. (Christensen) Jensen, he was born on April 25, 1939 in Detroit. After serving in the U.S. Air Force he attended Davenport College and then began an engineering career with Steelcase and retired after 30 years of loyal service never missing a day of work. On April 30, 1963, in Brownton, Minnesota, he married Janice Leora Hochsprung and together they made their home in Trufant and raised three daughters. Over the years, he attended St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Trufant, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lakeview, and more recently, St. Peters Lutheran Church in Big Rapids. He had been a member of the River Valley Car Club and the Big Rapids Eagles, enjoyed playing euchre, and volunteered with Senior Companions in the activities department at Metron of Big Rapids. He was preceded in death by his father, Russell Jensen; his mother, Emma Jensen-Christiansen; his step-father, Stanley Christiansen; a brother, Jack Jensen in 1976; and his wife of 43 years, Janice Jensen, on December 11, 2006. Surviving are three daughters, Carol Banfill of Grand Rapids, Cathryn & Scott Claerhout of Grand Rapids, and Cindy & Richard Thornbury of Grand Rapids; six grandchildren, Samantha Jo, Matthew Lee, Kevin Scott, Katlyn Mary, Connor Edward, and Derek Thomas; four great grandchildren, Devin Michael, Tristin Russell, Neveah Leora, and Adrianna McKenzie; and several nieces and nephews. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Russell Jensen, please visit our flower store.