Anna B. "Ann" Jensen

Anna “Ann” Bozena (Izrael) Jensen passed away peacefully at her home in Lakeside, Iowa on December 18, 2018, at the age of 88 years. Cause of death was kidney failure. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Storm Lake United Methodist Church. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church. A luncheon will be served immediately afterward at the Church Family Life Center. In lieu of flowers, please instead extend yourself in kindness to others whenever you can. If so desired, consider a memorial donation in Anna’s memory to the Storm Lake United Methodist Church or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (www.lls.org) in memory of her son, Kenneth J. Jensen. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be made via the web site: www.fratzkejensen.com. Anna was born July 8, 1930, in Chicago, IL. Her parents, John Izrael, Sr. and Anna (Placko) Izrael both immigrants from Czechoslovakia, met and settled in the Slovak neighborhood in Chicago, IL. Anna was baptized at Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church, attended Grover Cleveland Grade School, and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1948. Growing up, Anna enjoyed family Slovak dinners and pastries, polka dances, and helping her parents with their neighborhood grocery store, while her father also worked full time at the Santa Fe Railroad Yard. As a teenager, she enjoyed roller skating with her friends and going to movies. She also volunteered for the Red Cross, folding bandages during WWII. In 1949 Anna graduated from Cosmetology School and worked as a beautician in Chicago. Anna met Robert D. Jensen Sr. while roller skating in Chicago and they were married in 1952. Robert worked as a carpenter laborer, and Anna worked part time at home as a beautician. Together they had 4 children, Bobby, Anne, John, and Kenneth, all born in Chicago. In March of 1964 the family moved from Chicago to their farm in Storm Lake, Iowa. Anna enjoyed the farm work, especially working with the pigs and calves, walking the bean fields, and making many meals for her hard working family & farm neighbors. She was a devoted homemaker and spent time canning garden vegetables, sewing, and baking. Anna was always proud of her children and their accomplishments. Anna and Robert Sr. moved from the farm to Lakeside, Iowa in 1988. They continued to work at the farm for years. Anna joined the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake and became an active member of United Methodist Women (UMW). She had great faith in her Lord who gave her daily strength. Anna volunteered for many years serving at funeral lunches and at the Methodist Rummage sales. She organized the Friday Methodist Lady Lunches, a meeting of up to 15 friends who enjoyed going out to lunch and spending time with one another. Anna enjoyed knitting & crocheting sweaters, hats, mittens, dish cloths, and afghans for family and friends. She knitted many white baby blankets for baptisms and many warm hats for children in need. Anna was an active volunteer for the Buena Vista Hospital, where she worked to put together the hospital patient admission folders. Anna also enjoyed travelling to Chicago and suburbs to visit family and friends. She often visited Durango, CO, to spend time with her daughter, Anne, and son-in-law, Bob Steele. She enjoyed the southwest and especially a trip to the Grand Canyon, which included a reunion with a Chicago childhood girlfriend in Arizona. In 2004, Anna joined Anne for a tour in the Czech Republic. They then travelled to Trencin, Slovakia, where they spent time with her father’s family, and visited the village of Brezova Pod Bradlom, Cz., her mother’s birth place, and the grave site of her grandparents. Anna easily remembered and spoke the Czech/Slovak language while there for 2 weeks. Anna is survived by her son Robert D. “Bobby” Jensen Jr., of Storm Lake, IA; daughter, Anne Jensen (Bob Steele), of Durango, CO; son, John P. (Jan) Jensen, of St. Charles, IL; sister-in-law, Ann Izrael of Park Ridge, IL; and cousin Norma Kucera and family of Chicago, IL. Five grandchildren: Jeremy (Stephanie) Jensen, Derek Jensen, Stacey (Paul) Repischek, of West Chicago IL, and David and Amy Jensen (mother Shari Jensen), of Warrenville, IL; and five great-grandchildren: Jonathan, Austin, Lola, Madison and Sophia; nephews Jim (Ida) Izrael and Michael (Theresa) Izrael and their son Marco of Park Ridge, IL; and cousins Tom (Dee) Zavadsky and family of Cary, IL. and Lynn Samborski and children, Kimberly and Christopher, of Rio Rancho, NM. Anna was preceded in death by her parents, John Izrael, Sr and Anna Izrael; husband, Robert D. Jensen Sr; brother, John Izrael, Jr; cousins Martin Kucera and Elizabeth Zavadsky; and her son Kenneth J. Jensen. Anna and her family would like to thank her Methodist Church Friends and Pastor Phil, special friends Virginia Carlson, Inez Hess and Adah Hadenfelt, and her wonderful neighbors in Lakeside, especially Leroy and Joan Morse and family, Carolyn Wilson, Neil Garrels, and Jeanie Bellinghausen, as well as friends Janet and Don McClure and Gary and Sandy Wallburg, her UnityPoint Hospice staff, and her doctors, Dr. Scott Wulfekuhler and Dr. Michael Lee. All of these people, along with family members, helped to make it possible for Anna to remain in her home until she passed away. Anna will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and loyal dog, Laddie. Anna will be remembered by many, for her kindness and willingness to help others.

Anna B. "Ann" Jensen

July 8, 1930 - December 18, 2018