Allen Eugene Jensen

Eugene Jensen

Centerfield, Utah

Allen Eugene Jensen, 91, of Centerfield, Utah, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on July 5, 2017. Eugene was born April 4, 1926 in the family farm home in Centerfield to Alexius and Christena Jensen, the sixth of eight children. He grew up in Centerfield, and he could tell many stories about working the old farm equipment and going to dances out to Redmond Lake with friends . He loved to solve problems and find better ways to make things work.

Eugene married the love of his life, Nancy Arden Rees on February 11, 1949, in the Manti Temple. They are the parents of seven children, 31 grandchildren, 73 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Family was most important in Eugene’s life, and he was known to get many a fire going for a weenie roast anytime someone mentioned a family party.

Eugene served his country in the US Army. He was stationed in the Philippines and served in the 50th Military Police Battalion.

Eugene was dedicated to his church callings and had a very strong love for his Savior. He served on the Gunnison Stake High Council and as a bishop prior to his calling to serve in the Gunnison Stake Presidency. You could always count on his farm equipment being turned off on the Sabbath day.

Eugene loved the farm and the many years spent working the land. He was very involved with civic matters having served on the Sanpete County Planning Commission, as a Sanpete County Commissioner, a participant in Farm Bureau, Soil Conservation District, director on the Utah Dairy Commission, partner and board member of the Gunnison Dairy, Utah Water Users Board, Gunnison Irrigation Board, and the Centerfield City Council. He was a charter member of the Centerfield Oliver Russell Legion Post and served as a chaplain for many years. While serving as county commissioner, he was instrumental in the development of the Palisade Golf Course. Through his involvement, he and Nancy traveled to many parts of the world, including an opportunity of giving a presentation in China on irrigation practices. He made many lifelong friends along the way and enjoyed his time serving others.

Eugene supervised the construction of the Gunnison Dairy in a group effort to improve hay sales throughout the valley and to benefit the local economy. He served on the Gunnison Irrigation Board as treasurer and as president. Many of the Gunnison irrigation projects he was responsible for while on the board are still in use today and are beneficial to the delivery of irrigation water throughout the Gunnison Irrigation System. He really was an engineer at heart.

Eugene received the Young Farmer Award, Southern Utah Honors Award, Distinguished Service Award from the Sanpete County Farm Bureau, Distinguished Service Award and the Conservation Farmer of the Year from the Soil Conservation District.

After retiring from farming and when his legs began failing, Eugene kept himself active in caring for his yard. He was always doing fix-it projects for family and determining what projects needed to be done to meet his needs as his physical abilities lessened. Eugene was always thinking of his children and grandchildren. He made many horses, fences, marble games, jewelry trees, doll beds, and doll houses for his family and other important people in his life.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Jensen, Centerfield; children: Craig and Debbie Jensen, Hyde Park; Diane and David Hill, Centerfield; Valerie and Jim Rumpsa, Farmington; Norman and Eliza Jensen, Centerfield; Brad and Kolleen Jensen; Centerfield, Janell and Owen Braithwaite, Centerfield; siblings; Elva and Mardell Jensen, Centerfield.

He was preceeded in death by a son, Blake Allen Jensen; a grandson, Brandon Allen Olsen; parents; siblings, Margaret Thompson, Rignel (Twyla) Jensen, Robert (Marjorie) Jensen, Ivan (Madge) Jensen, Zelma (Pat) Kelly, Moyle (DeOn) Jensen.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 15, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. in the Centerfield 1st LDS Church where friends may call Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m.. Burial with military honors by Oliver Russell Legion Post #105 will be in the Centerfield Cemetery.

The family suggests that in leiu of flowers, contributions be made to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund with your local bishop or the Brandon Olsen Diabetic Scholarship Fund in care of the Gunnison Valley Bank.

Funeral Directors, Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guest book www.maglebymortuary.com