Charles W. Jensen

Charles W. Jensen Pocatello - Charles William Jensen, 89, long-time community leader and businessman, died peaceflully on Sunday August 31st while residing at the Idaho State Veteran's Home.

Charles was born in Ogden, Utah on March 26, 1919 to Thomas William Jensen and Annie Woodbury. He was the the second child and the oldest of eight sons. He was greatly admired by his younger brothers. When he was nine years old his family moved to a farm in Mount Pleasant Utah. There he was in charge of sixty milk cows. He farmed with his family and was active in many school activities at Sanpete High School. His senior year he was awarded the Farm Bureau Young Farmer of the Year Award for the State of Utah. He attended Utah State Agricultural College (Utah State University) on a scholarship. While in college he managed the dairy and was known as the "Ice Cream Man." He loved dishing out five cent ice cream cones. During the time he managed the dairy, he invented the "Fat Boy" ice cream sandwich. In 2001 he was honored as an Outstandning Alumni of Utah State University.

On March 15th, 1941, he married his eternal companion Nelda Calder. This past March they celebrated their sixty seventh anniversary. They have seven children, 28 grandchildren and 48 great- grandchildren.

In the spring of 1942 Charles took a job with Kraft Cheese in Pocatello. There he was in charge of quality control at over 40 ice cream and cheese plants throughout Idaho and Oregon.

In 1944 he earned a commision for the United States Navy where he trained at Farragut, Idaho. He later received his officer's commision and completed his officer's training at Princeton University. He served aboard a transport ship, a landing craft rocket ship and on a hospital ship due to a back injury he received while on the small LCI. He wittnessed the peace signing in Tokyo in September, 1945. Five of his brothers served in the military with him. After his formal service he was an active member of the Naval Fleet Reserve, played taps at hundreds of graveside services, and volunteered many hours at the Veteran's Home.

After returning home he worked six more years at Kraft Cheese. He then went into business with Jim Bean at Vogt Sheet Metal. At the time of Jim's death he purchased the business and enlarged it to include heating and air conditioning along with sheet metal work. Vogt's Inc. has served Pocatello for over 110 years. He sold the business to his son and son-in-law in 1981.

After living on an acreage on McKinley Street, he moved his family in 1969 to an apartment that he built above the family business on West Center. It was always interesting to many that the family lived where the first dance hall (1920's), roller skating rink (1930's) and bowling alley (1940's and 50's) had been located. He proudly gave tours of "Charlie's Place" to anyone who asked.

Charles was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in many positions in the church including Elder's Quorum President, Stake Missionary, Seventy, Bishop's Counselor, Bishop, and High Councilman. He loved assisting the many widow's as Bishop of the 11th Ward. After retirement from his business he served as a full-time volunteer for the Preventive Maintainence Program in the church for over 20 years. He was on state and national heating and air conditioning boards. He served on the State Apprenticeship Board for over 40 years. In 1947 he started volunteering as the offical time keeper at Idaho State University athletic events. He served as time keeper at all track meets, basketball and football games for over 50 years. He served as a volunteer at the Simplot Games for 30 years.

Prior to his death he was the longest member of the Pocatello Rotary Club where he was in his 47th year of membership. He was a Paul Harris Fellow.

He is survived by his wife Nelda, seven children, Joseph Jensen, New York, Karen (Gary) Ruchti, Robert (Nancy) Jensen, Karlene (Gary) Dance, Pocatello, Kristene (Ed) Guzman, Ventura California, Bruce (Sonya) Jensen, Hailey, and Randy (Kristen) Jensen, American Falls, Twenty-Eight Grandchildren and Forty-Eight Great Grandchildren. His parents, one sister, three brothers, daughter-in-law Cheryl Jensen, and oldest grandson Robert Ruchti preceded him in death.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Idaho State University Mormon Tabernacle Choir Scholarship Fund, PO Box 8265, Pocatello, ID, 83209.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday September 3, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the Pocatello LDS stake center (655 S. Grant) with Bishop's Counselor Gerald Homer officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel (510 N. 12th Ave.) and from 11:30 to 12:45 p.m. prior to services on Wednesday at the Church. Interment will be in Mountainview Cemetery with military rites provided by the Pocatello Veterans Honor Guard. Arrangements are under the direction of Manning-Wheatley Funeral Chapel.