Robert N. Jensen

Robert “Bob” N. Jensen, age 97, of Escanaba, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 31, 2022 at Pinecrest Medical Care Facility in Powers after a short stay. He was born on August 21, 1924 in Escanaba, the son of Edward and Hazel Jensen. Bob remained a lifelong resident of Escanaba except for his time in the military. He enlisted in the Army’s Tenth Mountain Division in 1943. He was a member of the ski patrol in Italy. Bob received several commendations for his service – the Army Lapel Button, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. During the many months Bob spent in various Army hospitals recovering from his injuries, he made a personal commitment to serve his fellow veterans. He was the President of the U.P. Chapter of the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, U.P., Representative of the Military Order of the Purple Heart chartered by Congress, a member of the North American VFW and the Ancient Accepted Rite and a charter member of the National WWII War Memorial. He loved the veterans at Jacobetti Home for Veterans for 25 years and spent countless hours cooking up sloppy joes for his monthly Bingo sessions with the boys and arranged for them to be bussed to the U.P. State Fair for many years. He also enjoyed manning the Purple Heart food stand at the fair each year. He was instrumental in the construction of the Purple Heart Building in Escanaba.

After his discharge from the Army, Bob met and married Joyce Guidon of Escanaba. Together they raised four sons. Bob was an active member of Immanuel and later Christ the King Lutheran Church where he loved getting together with his fellow teammates to play dart ball.

Bob was a huge sports enthusiast and very involved with the Escanaba Eskymos Fan Club and the “E” stickers in 1957. One year he was able to bring the Harlem Globe Trotters and the Green Bay Packers to play for a Fan Club fundraiser. He was involved and helped with getting the lighting for the football field and the building of Memorial Field next to the fairgrounds in 1958 and spent countless hours there coaching. Bob started the City League Rec Basketball Program where he refereed for a number of years.

After retirement from the U.P. Power Company you could find him on the golf course or watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren participating in sports or watching his granddaughters in a dance performance. On the weekends, he cheered on his favorite teams – the Lions, Redwings, and Tigers. It was not uncommon for Bob to be watching 2 TVs and listening to the radio at the same time, each reporting on a different game. Bob was an avid amateur photographer and loved sharing his pictures of his family with anyone who stopped by. He had a fun, loving, sense of humor and a gift for telling great stories.

Bob is survived by his sons, Tom (Sharral) Jensen of Anderson, SC, Steve (Kris) Jensen of Quinnesec, MI, Jim (Tina) Jensen of Escanaba, and Rob (Tammy) Jensen of Escanaba; several grand and great-grandchildren; and his significant other, Marion Trepanier of Rapid River, MI.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 5, 2022 at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. Funeral services celebrating the life of Bob will follow at 1:00 p.m., Friday, in the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Lon Hider officiating. Military Honors and burial will take place in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery at the conclusion of the services. A luncheon will be served afterward in the Christ the King Fellowship Hall. The family would like to thank OSF St. Francis Hospital and Pinecrest Medical Care Facility for the excellent care they provided. In lieu of flowers donations can be directed to a memorial of one’s choice. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert N. Jensen, please visit our floral store.