James R. Jensen, 80, of Bridgeport, Neb., passed away Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Neb.

James’s Celebration of Life was Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, in Bridgeport at All Souls Catholic Church. Interment was at Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery. Memorials may be given in care of the family. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.bbchapels.com.

James was born in Blair, Neb., on Jan. 8, 1929, to James G. and Madolin (Richter) Jensen. James, known as Junior to his family, was married to Elizabeth (Betty Jo) Smith on April 7, 1959 at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Lincoln, Neb. Before that, James graduated from Blair High School in 1946.

He enlisted in the military right after graduation and was stationed at Guam in the Philippines. After his tour, he came back to Nebraska went to work for Goodyear Rubber Company at night and studied at the University of Nebraska by day and graduated with a degree in civil engineering.

He was hired on with the Nebraska Department of Roads and finished his career with them as the District 5 Engineer for western Nebraska. He worked for 41 years with the last 29 in Bridgeport as the District Engineer for western part of the Nebraska and retired in 1995.

Dad loved finding a good deal on cars as well as everything else and traveling everywhere by road. He loved the journey as much as the designation. Not one to be tied down, he enjoyed living the cowboy and Native American way of life. There was not a museum or historic site he had not toured. James Jensen loved living in western Nebraska with the life it offered. He was one of the first to love riding his Harley Davidson as a young man.

He loved guns, trap shooting, hunting, fishing, fireworks and golfing. James was one of great intelligence and great sense of humor. He enjoyed cooking, company of friends, his family and debating politics – being known as Senator Jensen. Being raised during the Depression, he reeked of conservatism, but was very generous and caring towards people without. Dad celebrated 80 years of good, honest life. He lived life the way he wanted and left the same way. Dad was a friend to many, always calling, visiting or lending a helping hand. He was never one to judge, but one to help fix.

James had four siblings: Phyllis (Vern) Bellows, Rich (Sandy) Jensen, Ray (Janie) Jensen and Kathy (Geoff) Vinton.

Survivors include his daughter, Jennifer R. Troxel and her husband Tom Troxel and their daughter Taylor, all of Torrington; his son, James L. Jensen and his wife Dayla and their four children Madison, Dylan, Evan and Ethan of Wichita, Kan.; two sisters, Phyllis Bellows of Omaha, Neb., and Kathy Vinton of Beaufort, N.C.; and a brother, Raymond Jensen of Blair.

James was preceded in death by his beautiful wife of 31 years, Elizabeth Joyce (Betty Jo) Jensen; a brother, Richard Jensen; and many cherished friends, relatives and parents.

Dad will be thought of often by the people that he touched.

“Some people

Come into our lives

And quickly go,

Some stay for awhile

And leave footprints

On our hearts

And we are never the same.”





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