Timothy Anker Jensen, age 78, died April 15, 2023, at CountryHouse Residence in Omaha. The family will receive friends at 10 a.m. on April 29, 2023, at First Lutheran Church, 2146 Wright Street, Blair. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m., with a lunch to follow.
Timothy Anker Jensen was born May 3, 1944, in Edmore, Mich., to Anker Jensen, a Lutheran Pastor, and Vita Hansen Jensen. In 1948 the family moved to Luck, Wis., a small, idyllic community which Tim cherished, and which was formative of his outgoing and caring character. In 1955, the family moved to Castro Valley, Calif.; at 18, he enrolled at Dana College in Blair, where he received a B.A. in History in 1966. After graduation he enrolled in the Department of History of Religions in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago, earning an M.A. in 1970 and a PhD in 1976.
Tim was an exceptional student and found joy and adventure in learning. He was valedictorian of his graduating classes in both high school and college, and was a Woodrow Wilson and Danforth Fellow. In a long teaching career, Tim was widely respected and appreciated by students and colleagues. He taught in departments of Religion at Mary Washington College, in Fredricksburg, Va. (1972-1978), Sturt College, in Adelaide, South Australia (1977-1982), and at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (1982-2004). In Blair, he worked as a programmer/analyst at Great Plains Communications (1985-2006).
On June 12, 1970, Tim was united in marriage to Sharon Ellen Messer in Chicago, Ill. Tim’s father and his uncle, Earl Bengsten, officiated the ceremony. Tim and Sharon were inseparable in their many travels and adventures; Tim described his marriage to Sharon as the greatest joy and good fortune of his life. Tim volunteered for many organizations, and was particularly devoted to the causes of peace and equality. For many years Tim contributed to the Danish American Archive and Library in Blair, which he also served as board president.
Having grown up deeply immersed in Lutheran and Danish American culture, he enjoyed exploring his roots, learning and teaching about Denmark, and working with fellow volunteers and visitors. Tim traveled widely, loved languages and learning, and was long a committed practitioner of Vipassana meditation. He is remembered for his kindness, energy, humor, and, especially, for his exceptional intellect. Tim’s memory and breadth of knowledge were extraordinary, and commented on by all who knew him. He had a passion for ideas and learning, especially learning about the diverse peoples and cultures that enriched his life.
Tim is survived by his wife Sharon, his sister and brother-in-law, Miriam and Michael Bennett, of Discovery Bay, Calif., his son and daughter-in-law, Erik and Sara Jensen of Omaha, and son and daughter-in-law Joel Jensen and Eve Willadsen-Jensen, of Minneapolis, Minn., as well as three grandchildren, Amasa, Anker and Asta.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Danish American Archive and Library, 1738 Washington Street, Blair, NE 68008.
