Edward Leo Jens

Edward Leo Jens was born on October 17, 1920, to John Detlef and Anna Bokemper Jens. Ed was the youngest of five children; sisters, Ollie, Alta, Ellen and his brother, Wilmer (Moe). Ed grew up on the family farm near Balfour and attended Barbee Country School through eighth grade. In 1938 Ed was part of the first class to graduate from the new Glenwood High School, which is now the current West Elementary School.

After graduation, Ed worked on the family farm until his marriage to Flora (Johnson) Jens on Dec. 18, 1946. After their marriage, Ed and Flora began operating a grain and livestock farming operation six miles northeast of Glenwood. Ed and Flora were blessed with two daughters, Patricia Ann and Barbara Jean. The entire family was involved in the daily farming operations of the “home place”, and in 1960 Ed and his brother purchased another farm. This began the Jens Brothers’ Partnership.

Ed was very conservation-minded, rotating the crops each year, tiling the low wetland, repairing the terraces and working for the good of the land. Ed also enjoyed raising hogs for 33 years. In August 1981, Ed retired from farming and he and Flora moved to Glenwood.

During his working and retirement years, Ed was involved in several community organizations. He was a member of the Glenwood United Methodist Church and board. Ed served as a township director of Mills County Farm Bureau, campaign chairman for Farm Bureau twice; thirteen years on the Farm Service Corporation Board, FMHA board, Mills County Civil Service Board and the Glenwood Kiwanis Club.

The past few years, Ed enjoyed his time with his friends at the Senior Center, helping with farm errands if needed, and watching his family grow. Ed loved driving to his oldest daughter’s farm near Plainview, Nebraska, to look at the irrigated crops and watching his four grandsons in their activities. Patricia and her husband Jerry Frahm blessed Ed and Flora with four grandsons Wyatt, Ward, Wade and Weston. The final few years have further blessed them with one great-granddaughter and six great-grandsons. Ed and Flora were able to celebrate sixty-five years together last December. After spending several weeks in the hospital, Ed passed away on June 24, 2012, at age 91, at the Hospice with Heart House in Glenwood, Iowa.

Preceding Ed in death were his parents, three sisters and one brother. He is survived by his wife, Flora Jens of Glenwood, IA; daughters, Patricia Ann & husband Jerry Frahm of Plainview, NE; Barbara Jean Jens of Glenwood, IA; four grandsons, 7 great-grandchildren; nephew John Jens of Glenwood, IA; extended relatives and many friends.

Interment will be held in the East Liberty Cemetery north of Malvern, Iowa.

Memorials may be made to the Glenwood Grace United Methodist Church, Glenwood Volunteer Fire Dept., Silver City Volunteer Fire Dept. or Mills County Farm Bureau Scholarship Fund.

Visitation:Wednesday, June 27, 2012
5:00 PM
212 S. Locust St. Box 10
Glenwood, IA51534

Service:Thursday, June 28, 2012
10:00 AM
212 S. Locust St. Box 10
Glenwood, IA51534