Colin Chresten Jensen, 89, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, passed away September 10, 2024, at his home on West Lake Okoboji. A private graveside service will be held at Logan Park Cemetery in Sioux City, Iowa. Friends and family will celebrate Colin's life on Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 3:00-5:00 with a remembrance at 4:00 at the Sioux City Country Club.
Colin was born in Sioux City, Iowa, on February 27, 1935, to Irving Frederick and Elizabeth Macfarlane Jensen.
He attended school in Sioux City until 1953, when he graduated mid-year from Central High School. He attended Iowa State University for a semester in the spring and entered Yale University in the fall, graduating with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1957. He then entered the U.S. Public Health Service and was stationed in New York City.
In 1958, he married Alice Lincoln in Alton, Iowa, and they continued to live in New York City until he completed his military obligation. He then came home to Sioux City and entered the family business, Irving F. Jensen Co., Inc. He was associated with the business until his retirement.
During his time with the company, he became the President and was involved in its subsidiaries: Brower Constr. Co., Castle Rock Constr., Jebro Inc., Sibley Concrete Pipe, Blackfoot Contracting & Power Plant Aggregate (Midwest Flyash). He was President of the Iowa Associated General Contractors, President of the Nebraska Associated General Contractors, President of Iowa Concrete Paving Ass'n & later the Nat'l President of the American Concrete Paving Ass’n, Inc.
Since 1947, he enjoyed summers at Lake Okoboji sailing C scows and later Ynglings. In 1992, he was elected Commodore of the Okoboji Yacht Club. During the winters, for 40 years, the family enjoyed skiing the western slopes. Later he enjoyed golf and twice had a hole in one. He was certainly proud of completing two New York Marathons.
He is survived by his wife, son Colin C. Jensen, Jr. & Renee (Sioux City, Iowa), daughter Jennifer J. Larson & Cliff (Spirit Lake, Iowa). Grandchildren, Colin C. Jensen, IV, & Brittany, Chance Jensen, Abbie Stucker, Ethan Stucker, & Bennett Larson, and great- grandson, Jace. In addition, siblings Erik M. Jensen & Mary, (Franktown, Colorado), Mark R. Jensen & Kay, (Okoboji, Iowa), and Susan & Sherm Wollesen, (Lawton, Iowa), and in-laws, S. A. Lincoln, III, Robert T. Lincoln & Nancy, Walter R. Lincoln, Lucia Lincoln & Wm. Magill.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Irving Jr., an infant brother, Douglas, an infant sister, Lesley Lynne, his daughter, Elizabeth Louise Jensen, grandson Colin C. Jensen, III, and niece Louise M. Magill.
Colin was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. He was a Rotarian & actively supported many civic endeavors. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Girls Inc., Sioux City, IA., Boys Club or the cause of your choice.
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