J Phil Jensen

Phil was born in Beloit, Wisconsin to Aaron Jensen and Edna Kalsow. The family moved to Janesville, Wisconsin where Phil grew up, Graduating from Janesville High school and later attending Purdue University, graduating with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering.

He decided to enlist in the Navy and enrolled in Officer Candidate school in Newport, Rhode Island, graduating in May 8, 1953. During his stay in the Navy he was stationed in Washington, DC. His daughters Lynn and Kim were both born during this time. He served 3-4 years in the Navy and was honorably discharged, staying in the Navy reserves until 1970. The family moved back to Janesville, Wisconsin around 1956 where he joined his father in the family Insurance Agency. Jane, his youngest daughter was born in Janesville, WI in 1960. Phil spent the next 10 years working and boating up in Door County.

In 1972 Phil decided he wanted to move to a warmer climate and he had always wanted to own a Marina, so he purchased the Beach Marina on Ft. Myers Beach, and moved to Florida. And that is where I met him in April of 1972. We were married on March 1, 1973. In Marrying me he also acquired 3 step-daughters, Teresa, Susan and Nancy. In 1974 we moved to Bradenton, Florida where he continued to enjoy one of his favorite pastimes, boating and later after we retired, another of his hobbies, photography.

We had so many adventures during the past 53 years there is not enough space to list them all. But for the past 15 years he was a member of the Artists Guild of Anna Maria Island and he sold his photography at the members gallery on Holmes Beach.

We took many camping trips across the USA with Phill taking pictures along the way. We also volunteered at Gulf Island National Seashore in Pensacola, Florida where he took numerous pictures of the old Fort and had some of the pictures made into postcards for the little store to sell. Up until last year Eastern National was still ordering the postcards from him. His photographs now reside in many homes and many walls.