To: Faculty and Staff Members -- From: Dr. Thomas Hansmeier, Vice President for Educational and Student Services -- Date: December 1, 1982
Dennis P. Jensen, director of financial aids at UNI since 1965, died as a result of a traffic accident about three miles southwest of Traer on Tuesday, November 30, 1982.
Dennis was born on September 26, 1934, in Huron, South Dakota, the son of Ole and Mabel Jensen. He graduated from Sioux City East High School, and earned his B. A. and M. A. degrees in 1957 and 1961, respectively, from UNI. He joined the UNI staff in 1958 as assistant to the dean of students. Mr. Jensen served on many University committees including Administrative Council, Commencement Committee, Maucker Cultural Enrichment Award Committee, and the UNI-Dome Policy Board. Mr. Jensen was a charter member of the Iowa Association of Financial Aid Administrators and served as its president during 1980-81. He served on numerous panels for the state association and for the state of Iowa, as well as on regional and national panels, and was a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
He was a member of the State Advisory Committees which set up the State Scholarship Program in Iowa and the Iowa Guaranteed Loan Program. Mr. Jensen was first elected to the Cedar Falls City Council in 1971, taking office January 1, 1972, and has served continuously since that time. In addition to several stints as mayor pro tempore, Jensen chaired the public works, personnel, public finance, streets and alleys, and public safety committees. He served on all Council committees, including the public relations and municipal enterprise committees.
Dennis married Eileen Johnson June 1, 1956, in Cedar Falls. She survives him, as do their three children, Valerie (Mrs. Michael Halbach of St. Paul, Minnesota); Mike of Cedar Falls; and Curt at home; and his two brothers, James of Sioux City and Norman of Kalispell, Montana. Curt is employed by UNI in the Plant Services Department. Mr. Jensen was a member of Nazareth Lutheran Church. Funeral services will be on Friday, December 3, 1982, at 11:00 a.m. at Nazareth Lutheran Church, University and Main. A memorial fund has been established with the UNI Foundation. Individuals may contact the UNI Foundation, 137A Latham Hall, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa--50614. Memorials may be made payable to the UNI Foundation in the name of Dennis P. Jensen.
11/30/82 "UNI's Dennis Jensen Killed in Car Accident" -- CEDAR FALLS -- Dennis P. Jensen, director of financial aids at the University of Northern Iowa since 1965, was killed about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday (Nov. 30) morning in a traffic accident on U.S. Highway 63, about three miles southwest of Traer. Jensen, 48, of 1803 College Street, was killed when the car he was driving in the westbound lane, went into the north ditch to avoid a head-on collision with an eastbound semi-trailer truck that was in the westbound lane while passing another vehicle. Highway Patrol officials said the truck drove over Jensen's vehicle in the ditch, killing him instantly. Jensen was alone in the car. Officials said the visibility at the time of the accident, due to the fog, was about 400 feet, and the lights were not on in Jensen's vehicle.
Jensen was en route to Toledo for a meeting of the financial aids directors of the three state universities--UNI, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa. Jensen, who has served as a member of the Cedar Falls City Council since 1972, was born in Huron, South Dakota, September 26, 1934, a son of Ole and Mabel Jensen. He graduated from Sioux City East High School and attended UNI (then Iowa State Teachers College) receiving B. A. ant M. A. degrees in 1957 and 1961, respectively. He married Eileen Johnson June 1, 1956, in Cedar Falls. He joined the UNI staff in 1958 as assistant to the dean of students, after teaching one year in the northwest Iowa community of George. He was named director of financial aids at UNI in 1965.
Jensen was a charter member of the Iowa Association of Financial Aid Administrators and served as its president during 1980-81. He served on numerous panels for the state association and for the state of Iowa, as well as on regional and national panels, and was a member of the National Association of School Financial Aid Administrators. He was a member of the State Advisory Committees which set up the State Scholarship Program in Iowa and the Iowa Guaranteed Loan Program.
Jensen was first elected to the Cedar Falls City Council in 1971, taking office January 1, 1972, and has served continuously since that time. In addition to several stints as mayor pro tempore, Jensen chaired the public works, personnel, public finance, streets and alleys, and public safety committees, and served on all Council committees, including the public relations and municipal enterprise committees. He was a member of Nazareth Lutheran Church. Jensen is survived by his wife, Eileen; three children, Valerie (Mrs. Michael) Halbach of St. Paul, Minnesota, Mike of 1919 College St., and Curt at home; and two brothers, James of Sioux City and Norman of Kalispell, Montana. Services are pending at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, Cedar Falls.