Clarence Dale Jensen

Clarence Dale Jensen, 90, of Kokomo, passed away on November 29, 2015 at his residence. He was born October 23, 1925, in Gallen, Michigan, the son of Lyle Rathburn and Loraine (Pennel) Rathburn Jensen and his adoptive father, Russell Jensen.

Clarence served his county in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and during the Korean Conflict. He served in the Pacific Theater of Operations including, the defense of Midway Island, the defense of Bougainville, B.S.I. and the occupation of Green Island, Bismarck Archipelago. He was an Air Line mechanic and received four combat medals during his service in the Marine Corps. Clarence married Marjorie Grace (Barnhart) Jensen on December 6, 1947, in South Bend, and she preceded him in death on February 21, 2009. He was retired from Kokomo School Corporation after 30 years of service. Clarence’s greatest accomplishment while employed at Kokomo Schools was getting the Haworth High School football field ready for the first game played at Haworth, and he always enjoyed lighting the Olympic Torch at the Haworth football games. He was a member of American Legion Post 6 and loved the time he spent serving our country. Clarence always enjoyed telling stories of his service time to his family and friends.

Clarence is survived by his daughter, Debra Lee (husband Thomas) Beck, of Kokomo; son, Thomas (wife Terry) Jensen, of Watagua, Texas; grandchildren, Christopher M. (wife Diane) Jensen, of Wichita Falls, Texas, Jonathan D. (wife Tacy) Jensen and their children Erin, Hailey and Jack, of Jacksonville, Arkansas, Catherine L. (husband Phillip) Billmeier and their children Brandie and Shanda of, Fort Worth, Texas, Stephanie G. (husband Jonathan) Pereira and their children Heather, Preston (wife Annie) and Jeremy, of Saginaw, Texas, Timothy T. (wife Sara) Beck and their children Katelyn and Chase, of Kokomo, and Tammi E. Burch and her children Gerald and Patrick, of Kokomo; and a sister, Janet (husband Bill) Kremer, of Osceola, Indiana.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Christopher Jensen; and a brother, Duane Jensen.

A funeral service to celebrate Clarence’s life will be held at 1pm on Friday, December 4, 2015, at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home with Pastor Doug Benham officiating. Entombment will follow at Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Marine Corps and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Visitation will be held from 11am to 1pm on Friday at the funeral home. The family would like to give a special thanks to Great Lakes Caring Hospice for the wonderful care they provided, Jackie Widup from Above and Beyond for all her care and support, Dr. Phiefer and her staff and Dr. Yoder. Memorial contributions may be given to the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Honor Team, the Brookside Free Methodist Church or Wreaths Across America for Arlington Cemetery through the funeral home. Online condolences may be given at www.sunsetmemorygarden.com.