Arthur Elden Jensen

Arthur Elden Jensen
Sept. 5, 1924 - Aug. 3, 2016
Arthur "Art" passed away at 91 years of age in Newberg with his family by his side.
Art was one of eight kids born in Wayne, Nebraska, to Ivar and Anna Jensen. He left high school in the 10th grade to serve his country in World War II in the United States Army. He served as antiaircraft artillery, a cannoneer, automatic weapons and a truck driver. Once the war was over he was honorably discharged on Dec. 31, 1945.
After the war he made his way back to Nebraska to see his family. After some time, he made the decision to join his half-brother, Phillip, in Albany. He found a job working for Union Pacific Railroad and a couple of other odd jobs until he made his way to Albany in the summer of 1950. It was there that he met the love of his life, Gayle Pitts. After two short weeks of courtship he proposed, she said yes, and three months later they were married!
Soon after the wedding the two lovebirds moved to Wayne, Nebraska, to join his dad in a garbage truck business. It was there that six of their seven children were born. After Arthur and Gayle helped pioneer a church and build a home for themselves. It was 1960 when they decided to move back to Oregon and settle in Albany, which was where their seventh and final child was born. They raised their family on strong biblical principles, loving Jesus and serving others.
Art worked at the paper mill and a cabinet shop before he retired from Duraflake in 1989. He and Gayle were long time members of Albany First Assembly where they both served in many capacities over their 56 years of worshiping there.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gayle; first born son David; parents Ivar and Anna; brothers Chester, Donald and Delbert; sisters Annabelle and Ines; half-brother Phillip; half-sisters Genevive, Anna, Kathleen and Ina May; stepbrother Ernest Alley; and stepsister Carlina.
He is survived by his sons, Tom and wife June, and Steve and wife Becky; daughters Marj and husband Dick, Rochelle and husband Clay, Renee and husband Steve, Janet and husband Greg, and Kris (Dave's widow). Art and Gayle had 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
We are celebrating his life at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, at Albany First Assembly. Service will be available by live stream at albanyfirstassembly.org. Private interment will take place at Willamette National Cemetery.
AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com).