Dick L. Jensen, 10/25/1930-6/30/2022
Dick was born to Axel and Bernice (Fancher) Jensen of Audubon, Iowa. Dick graduated from Audubon Public Schools in 1948. It was in rural Audubon County, Iowa that Dick learned to hunt and fish, activities he enjoyed for the rest of his life. Dick attended the University of Iowa’s College of Commerce and thereafter the College of Law, graduating with an LLB degree in 1954. Dick’s military service was in the United States Navy, on active duty from 1955-1958, as a Judge/Advocate General with stints in Newport, Rhode Island and Lake Forest, Illinois.
Dick married Nancy Wilson in 1956. They raised two children, Charles and Sarah. In his legal career, after opening a law practice as a solo practitioner in his hometown of Audubon, and following a narrow loss as the Republican candidate to a Democrat for Audubon County Attorney, Dick joined Walnut Grove Products Co., Atlantic, Iowa where he served as General Counsel from 1960-1966, when the Company was sold to W.R. Grace and Company. After Walnut Grove was sold, Dick served as General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Director of Spencer Packing Company, later known as Spencer Foods Corporation, located in Spencer, Iowa, from 1966-1972. Thereafter Dick joined the Des Moines law firm Dreher, Wilson and Adams in 1972. He retired from that firm in 2017, now known as Simpson, Jensen, Abels, Fischer and Bouslog.
Regarding civic and social organizations, Dick was active in the Sigma Nu Fraternity, the Masons, the Des Moines Chapter of the Royal Order of the Jesters, the Des Moines Club, Rotary Club, the Izaak Walton League, the Winterset Hunt Club and the New Pioneer Gun Club, among others. He enjoyed fishing, hunting with and training Labrador dogs, spending time at Lake Okoboji (regardless of the season) and cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Cubs.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Nancy, daughter Sarah and his brother Don and his wife Sallie. He is survived by his son, Charley and his wife Nancy, grandchildren Ben and Tom, his wife Lauren, and great granddaughter Nancy Jane Jensen.
At Dick’s request, there will be no funeral service but the family invites friends and relatives to the Des Moines Golf and Country Club, 1600 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines from 4-6 pm on Sunday, July 24th for a cocktail reception. Memorial donations may be made to Youth Homes Of Mid America (Des Moines, Iowa) or the charity of your choice.