Robert Lee Jensen

June 14, 1929 – October 7, 2017

Robert Lee Jensen, born June 14, 1929 in Oak (Nuckolls County). Neb., passed away on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. He was the last of four children born to Ever Christian Jensen and Anna Cecelia (Larsen) Jensen. He is preceded in death by his three siblings Alvin Leroy Jensen (1920-2001), Harold Lewis Jensen (1922-2005) and Erna Christine Jensen Sissel (1924-1989). At the age of 3, Robert stuck his right index finger in his mother’s meat grinder and cut the top part of his finger off, down to the knuckle. This never bothered him as he was in the Korean War as an MP. He served in the U.S. Navy from July 17, 1951 to July 16, 1953.

Robert was married to Maxine Fern Felton on Dec. 14, 1955. They had three children Kathleen Susan Hamilton, Robert Lee Jensen Jr. and Kristina Marie Jensen. He married Vianna Jean Wilhelm on Nov. 23, 1977. She had two sons, Gordon Orville Wilhelm (who preceded her in death in 2001) and Calvin Wayne Wilhelm. Robert’s grandchildren include Michael Scott Wilhelm, Kristina Dee Wilhelm, and Bryan Scott Olson.

Robert came to Washington state looking for work. He worked as a rural postal deliveryman with the U.S. Postal Service, and for Safeway. Later he came to Chelan and worked in the fruit packing sheds. He worked for Chelan Valley Evaporator, Trout Fruit, Blue Chelan Fruit and Chelan Safeway. He tended bar at Dale’s Tavern and The Lower Tavern and he drove Chelan Taxi for two years. Robert retired from Chelan Safeway in 1994.

He loved to hunt and fish and his favorite color was blue. He hunted and fished until he moved to George, Wash. He fished for bottom fish in Lake Chelan until he moved. He tried for a bear until he moved from Chelan, but he was never able to get one.

He always had a garden in Chelan.

Robert was a Lifetime Member of the Manson Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Private interment will take place and Robert’s life will be celebrated at the East Wenatchee Veterans of Foreign Wars, 211 11th Street NE on Friday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.

Please express your thoughts and memories on the online guestbook at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements by Jones & Jones – Betts Funeral Home.