Dr. Donald Frederick Jensen

Dr. Donald Frederick Jensen died on November 20, 2013. He was born in Beloit, Wisconsin and is preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Severt Jensen and brothers, Kenneth and Merrill. He is survived by his wife, Dixie, son Chris Jensen, daughter Karen Gruber and her husband David and stepdaughter, Vicki Williams and her husband Greg and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Graduated from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y., Jensen held both a Bachelor of Music degree and a Master’s Degree. He held a doctorate from Union Theological Seminary, where he majored in musicology, composition and choral directing. He was the recipient of the George Eastman Honorary Scholarship and was an Undergraduate and Graduate Fellow, as director of the Sound Recording Department of the Eastman School of Music. Jensen sang leading roles in numerous operatic productions and appeared for several summers in leading roles with “Opera Under the Stars” Company. Jensen served his country during the Korean War. He was stationed at West Point and was the soloist of the United States Military Band, as well as director of communication. As soloist for the United States Military Band, Jensen was frequently heard on broadcasts of the Voice of America as well as numerous broadcasts across the nation. He came to Oklahoma City in 1961 as Director of Music at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, professor of music at Oklahoma City University School of Music and Chairman of the Department of Church Music. In later years, he developed and taught courses for OCU graduate students in music management, music and worship and hymnology. Jensen initiated the Church Arts Festival, one of the earliest of its kind in the nation, in celebration of St. Luke’s 75th anniversary in 1964. Jensen was a regional and national clinician for choral music, conducting and worship. He authored the book, “To Raise a Jubilee”, a resource book on contemporary music in the church. He served for many years as Editor of the Choristers Guild LETTERS, a national monthly resource of choral directors. Jensen was known for his great love for his God, his family, his friends, music and the beauty he so appreciated in nature. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 7, at 11 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be sent to Westminster’s Music Ministry, Oklahoma City Philharmonic or Oklahoma City University Schools of Religion or Music.