Dr. Donald Reed Jensen, 86, of Bloomington, Illinois, died at 10:00 A.M., Monday, November 13, 2017.
His visitation will be from 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M., Friday, November 17, 2017, at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home in Le Roy, Illinois. His funeral service will follow at 3:00 P.M. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Le Roy, Illinois. Military rites provided by Ruel Neal Post 79 American Legion LeRoy, Illinois. Memorial donations may be made to the Dept. of Biological Sciences at Illinois State University or Donor's Choice.
Reed was born May 4, 1931, in Pocatello, Idaho, the third of four sons, to Joseph Golden and Myrtle Lillie Reddish. He married Brigitte E. Becker in Heuchelheim, Kreis Giessen/Lahn, Germany November 2, 1956. She survives.
Surviving are two daughters, Linda C. (Chad) Covert and Donna M. (Mark) Brent Hicks; son, David R. (Kaori) Jensen; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Mr. Jensen attended Pocatello public schools, Idaho State University (BS, Chemistry, 1953), University of Washington, Seattle (BA, Zoology, 1954). He served in the United States Army Medical Corp from 1954-1957. Upon release from the military, he attended Utah State University where he earned advanced degrees in Physiology (MS, 1961; Ph. D. 1964). He was awarded a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral fellowship and conducted research in Germany at the Institute of Physiological Chemistry at the University from 1964 to 1966. Dr. Jensen then accepted a position in the Department of Biological Sciences at Illinois State. During his tenure at ISU, he was known for his great love for teaching and for the unselfish dedication of his time to students. He served as Assistant to the Department Chairman for 10 years directing affairs of the Undergraduate Program, Inventory and Space allocation, advising students in the Academic Advisement Office, and Chairman of the Physiology and Anatomy Section of the Department for many years. He was elected to the status of Fellow in the American Association of Sciences in 1959. Mr. Jensen retired in September 1994.
At home, "Reed" was known for his great devotion to family, friends, neighbors, and gardening. Passers-by were always pleased to see his flowers. The raspberries, gooseberries, currents, and apples he grew were always a delight to his children and grandchildren. Reed was loved and adored by all that knew him and he truly will be missed. Reed Jensen (Papa) had a strong Faith in Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God's comfort and promises bring peace to his loved ones. "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." Amen.
