Howard Leroy Jensen

Howard Leroy Jensen, the son of Jens and Hilda Petersen Jensen, was born November 14, 1931, at his grandparents home east of Exira, Iowa and died June 30, 2010, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 78 years, 7 months, and 16 days.
Howard was baptized at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira and confirmed at the Danish Lutheran Church in Audubon. He attended Audubon Community Schools then transferred his senior year to the Exira Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1950. He then helped his father operate their implement business in Exira.
On June 10, 1951, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ann Jayne at her parents home in Greeley Township, Audubon County. Three children, Pamela, Thomas, and Toni were born to this union. They moved to Iowa City, Iowa where Howard attended the University of Iowa and studied International Commerce. They returned to Exira and Howard became a partner with his father in the J & M International Harvester Implement business in Exira and Audubon Implement Company in Audubon. In 1964 Howard and his business partner/brother Jim Jensen built a new building in Audubon. Then Howard moved his family to Audubon in 1965. Later in his career, Howard, was a partner/owner and secretary/treasurer of Great Dane Fertilizer Company and a partner/owner of Sornson Equipment Company in Audubon. They sold Audubon Implement Company in 1978 and Howard stayed with the Company until he retired in 1980. He received a 40 year pin from International Harvester for his many years of service. During retirement, Howard spent the next 10 years restoring Model A and Model T Ford Cars. He also collected and restored antique toy tractors and some toy farm implements. Following a battle with cancer, Ann died January 20, 1997.
On July 13, 1997,he married Mary Ann Katherine Petersen at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. They enjoyed their home and spending several winters in Texas. Mary Ann died from cancer on March 28, 2004.
Howard was married to Dollie Harber on July 9, 2005, at the Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Conway, Arkansas. Dollie cared for Howard during his final illness in their home until he moved to the Friendship Home in Audubon on June 15, 2010.
Howard was a member of Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon. While living in Exira, he was a member of the Exira Fire Department and had served on the Exira City Council. He was a member of the Audubon Lions Club and was responsible for initiating the Lions Toy Show in Audubon. He also received the Melvin Jones Award, one of the highest honors given by the Lions Club International.
Preceding him in death were his wives: Elizabeth Ann Jensen and Mary Ann Katherine Jensen; and his parents.
Survivors include his wife: Dollie Jensen of Audubon, Iowa; his children; Pamela Jayne and husband Bryan Duffy of Marion, Ohio, Thomas Howard and wife Sheryl Jensen of Canton, Michigan, and Toni Lea and husband Kurt Nelson of Audubon; his grandchildren: Andy and wife Crystal Duffy, Sean Duffy, Karin Jensen, Laura Jensen, Whitney Nelson, Olivia Nelson and Cliffton Nelson; his great grandchildren: A.J. Duffy, Caitlin Duffy and Tara Duffy; his step-children: Cathy Jane and husband Larry Norred of Piggott, Arkansas, Denzil Maurice and wife Jessie Jones of Maumelle, Arkansas, Joseph Michael and wife Rhonda Jones of Paragould, Arkansas, and Teresa LeAnn and husband Stan Jackson of Southern Pines, South Carolina; his brother and sisters: Laurie and husband James Anderson of Des Moines, Iowa, Louelle Bingley of Liberty, Missouri, Jim and wife Judy Jensen of Kimberling City, Missouri; nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.
Honorary casket bearers will be Andrew Duffy, Sr, Sean Duffy, Cliffton Nelson and the members of the Audubon Lions Club. The casket bearers will be Todd Johnson, Lee Nielsen, LaVerne Deist, Robert Hoffmann, Gary Keller, and Thomas Nielsen

Memorials:
The family prefers memorials to the Howard and Ann Jensen Scholarship.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Friday, July 2, 2010 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Larry Lystig on Saturday, July 3, 2010, at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviours Lutheran Church in Audubon.