Delbert Jensen Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Delbert was born December 26, 1918, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of H. Harold and Ruth (True) Jensen. He graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1937 and then attended Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) in Cedar Falls, where he was voted Most Valuable Athlete and had been undefeated in collegiate wrestling. Just short of graduating from I.S.T.C. he entered the United States Army Air Corp serving as a combat glider pilot in the European Theater during World War II. Delbert was united in marriage to Frances J. Buckingham on November 28, 1941, in Storm Lake, Iowa. He served on the faculty of Cedar Falls High School as their first wrestling coach. He and Fran then co-owned and operated the Jensen Greenhouse from 1953 to their retirement in 1990. Del was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, had been inducted into the Iowa High School Officials Hall of Fame and received the Old Gold and Purple Award from I.S.T.C. Delbert is survived by his wife of Cedar Falls, Iowa; his daughter, Karen L. Jensen of Solon, Iowa; and his sister and brother in-law, Betty and Bud Van Kerckove of Waterloo, Iowa. Delbert died on Friday, June 24, 2005, at Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Preceding Delbert in death were his parents.