John Jensen, Phd.

John Neil Jensen, Phd.

September 29, 1936 ~ October 22, 2015

John Neil Jensen, 79, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend returned to his Heavenly Father on Thursday, October 22, 2015, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in St. George, Utah, on September 29, 1936, the son of Charles Franklin Jensen and Kathleen Adella Wallis.

He married Marian Isom, the Sweetheart of his life, in the St. George LDS Temple and celebrated 57 years of marriage in May. They were blessed with six children, Deanna Marquardt of Layton; Julie Rowsey (Chuck) of Hooper; Jill Larkin (Troy) of Pittsburgh; Jeff Jensen of Morgan; Jenny Edmunds (Bill) of Pleasant View; and Tim Jensen (Brigeeta) of Little Elm, Texas.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping with his family and they have many wonderful memories of the camping trips they shared. Just two weeks before his passing he was able to go rabbit hunting with his son.

Neil loved learning and shared what he learned with others. He got his Associates Degree from Dixie College and went on to the University of Utah where he got his Bachelors and Masters of Science.  He continued on to receive a doctorate degree from Arizona State University in population genetics.  After graduation he was pleased to be invited to join the faculty at Weber State University, in the School of Science, Zoology Department.  He taught and mentored many students for 38 years.

Neil loved his country and served in the National Guard for 13 years, he retired as a first lieutenant.  He had the honor of receiving the first “Utah’s Most Outstanding Guardsman” award.  He served one year of active duty during the Berlin crisis at Fort Hood, Texas.

Neil loved his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served in a Bishopric, as a High Counselor, stake missionary, gospel doctrine teacher and many other positions.  He served as a missionary with his wife on Temple Square for 9 years and 18 months in the Milan, Italy Mission.  During the past year he served as a Pathway missionary.

Neil was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and four sisters.  He is survived by his beloved wife, Marian; two brothers, James and Eric Jensen; six children, 14 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2015 at the Washington Terrace 13th Ward, 4855 S 300 W Washington Terrace, Utah.  Friends may visit family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd, and on Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church.  Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Rd.