Melvin Jensen

Memorial services for Melvin J. Jensen, 88, Norfolk, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 30, 2024, at Christ Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Reverend Michael Moreno will officiate.

Inurnment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Norfolk with Military Honors conducted by the Army National Guard Honor Guard, American Legion Post 16 and VFW Post 1644. 

Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of arrangements.

He passed away Monday, September 16, 2024, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk.

Melvin James was born on September 2, 1936, in Wausa, Nebraska to James and Rose (Kumm) Jensen. He was baptized on September 27,1936, and was confirmed on April 2,1950, at Golgotha Lutheran Church near Wausa. He graduated in 1954 from Creighton High School in Creighton, Nebraska.

He enlisted in the Army as a helicopter mechanic in 1954, served until 1958, and attained the honor of Sgt. First Class.

After his Army release, he met Carol Schmidt of Norfolk. On June 28,1959, they were married at Grace Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Mel and Carol celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this past June. To this union, five children were born Jim, Joel, Jean, Joanne and Julie.

Mel was a master gardener and with Carol's help had beautiful gardens and flowers.

Mel worked many jobs from Anderson’s Grocery in Wausa to Montgomery Ward in Colorado. He worked at Singer’s Beef Plant, Weaver’s, Hamm’s Beer, Regional Center, Dudley’s in Norfolk, and as the Grounds Keeper for the Madison Nursing Home and Pork Plant in Madison.

For 32 years, Mel was a member of Alcoholic Anonymous. 

Left to mourn are his spouse, Carol; sons, Jim (Marilyn) Jensen of Norfolk and Joel (Conné) Jensen of Iowa; daughters, Jean (Dave) Eckert of Norfolk, Joanne Jensen of Bloomfield, and Julie (Rod) Cahoy of Missouri; grandchildren and great- grandchildren; sisters, Phyllis (Robert) Reed of Norfolk and Donna (Dan) Nielsen of Sioux Falls, SD; brother, Norman (Mary) Jensen of Winside; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Balenger of Glendale, AZ and Colleen Wear of Ely, IA; brother-in-law, Richard Schmidt of Sussex, England; nieces, nephews, and cousins, and many friends.

Those preceding him in death were his parents; brother, Keith Jensen; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Victor and Helen Schmidt; brothers-in-law, Robert Schmidt and Ron Balenger; nephews, Kevin Balenger and Mike Balenger, niece Judy Reed, and great niece Hailey Christiansen.

Cards can be sent to Carol Jensen, 920 S. 14th Place, Norfolk, NE. 68701.

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