Dodgeville - Rick Jensen, age 76, died at St. Mary's hospital in Madison on Sunday, December 4, 2022

Rick was born on July 23, 1946 in Sioux City, Iowa to Joyce (Johnson) Jensen and Col. Harvey L. Jensen. Since his Dad was a career Marine pilot, Rick grew up moving a lot between the east and west coasts. Even with all the relocations, he and his sister Patti and parents remained a tight family. He graduated from San Juan Capistrano High School in California and went on to San Diego State College, where he met his wife, Leslie, who he married in June, 1968. After graduation from San Diego State, they moved to Quantico, Virginia, where Rick finished his training and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in Viet Nam in 1970-71 and returned to San Diego. When he was hired by Lockheed Martin in the Bay area, he & Leslie and their son, Brian and daughter, Erin, moved to San Jose, California, where they lived for 22 years. He always enjoyed the people, the work and the challenges at Lockheed. He also loved water sports: swimming, surfing, water skiing and sailing his Hobie Cat, and was good at all of them. Traveling was something he enjoyed very much, and over the years, they visited all 50 states, as well as trips to Canada and Europe.

When their son Brian enlisted in the Marine Corps and became friends with a young man (Jon Trainor) from Mt. Horeb, he brought him home whenever they had leave. Jon and their daughter, Erin fell in love, got married and moved back to Wisconsin, and later, Brian followed them. With the children here, Rick didn't hesitate to quit his job and leave his beloved ocean to start over in Dodgeville, where he has made many friends. He finished his career at Lands' End and was an active part of his grandchildren's lives. He became a great-grandfather in August when Bailey and Luke had their son, Raymond. Family has always been a priority and he was a wonderful husband, son, brother, Dad, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather.

Rick was preceded in death by his father, Col. Harvey Jensen.

He is survived by his wife Leslie of Dodgeville, his mother Joyce Jensen of Laguna Niguel, CA, his sister, Patti (Doug) Borman of Scottsdale, AZ, his son Brian (Diane) of Mt. Horeb, his daughter Erin (Jon) Trainor of Barneveld: his grandchildren Tyler Jensen, Bailey (Luke) Farrell, Jakoby Trainor and great-grandson Raymond Farrell.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH in Dodgeville.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to Grace Lutheran or the Iowa County Humane Society.