In Remembrance

Tollef C. Jensen

INGLESIDE, Texas — Tollef C. Jensen died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, at his home in Texas. He was 86 years old.
Tollef was born in September 1923 in La Crosse to Tollef Jensen and Borghild Jensen (Christiansen).
He was raised in Galesville where his parents owned and operated a restaurant. He graduated from Galesville High in 1941, entered the U.S. Navy, and was honorably discharged in December 1945. He married Ethel M. Gillies in 1947. They lived in the Trempealeau/Galesville area and later moved to Alma, Wis.
They remained in Alma until 1968. He first worked as an artificial inseminator for Tri-States Breeders, and also was a commercial fisherman and trapper on the Mississippi River to help supplement the family income.
Later, he worked as a maintenance repair man at Alma Creamery. In 1959, he started working as a plant operator at Dairyland Power’s Alma coal-fired electrical generating plant. He also operated a TV repair business, and built and operated a cable TV system that served the city of Alma.
In 1968, Tollef transferred to Dairyland’s new G-3 coal-fired plant in Genoa, and the family took residence in Stoddard. He retired as plant operations supervisor in 1985.
While in Stoddard and Alma he was active in community service. He was an American Legion member from the time of his discharge until his death. He played taps at Legion funerals for over 35 years. He was a volunteer fireman in both communities and a Wisconsin DNR hunter safety instructor for many years.
After his retirement, Tollef and his friend and companion, Gertrud Thelen, moved to the Aransas Pass, Texas, area. While there they operated the Fin and Feather Resort for a time and were active in the Moose Club. During his lifetime he had many pursuits and hobbies, including hunting, commercial fishing and sport fishing on the Great Lakes and on the gulf at Port Aransas, Texas; and trapping and golf.
Tollef is survived by five children, Richard Jensen of Stoddard, Sandra Jensen of Fountain Hills, Ariz., Jeffery Jensen of Onalaska, Jenifer Jensen of Rochester, Minn., and David Jensen (Karen Jensen) of Onalaska. He also leaves behind five grandchildren, Tiffany, Annie, Jason, Eric and Autumn; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bernard Jensen of Darmstadt, Germany, and Philip Jensen of Galesville; and a sister, Constance Gates of Brookings, S.D. He also leaves behind his friend and companion of 26 years, Gertrud Thelen, and his dog, Bear.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Harald Jensen; an infant daughter, Susan; and his wife of 30 years, Ethel “Annie” Jensen.

Memorials may be sent to Wisconsin Hunters Education Instructor Association, Jim Captain, WHEIA Treasure, P.O. Box 24, Stevens Point, WI 54481.