Victor Keith Jensen, BHS 1947?

Victor Keith Jensen, BHS 1947?

Victor "Keith" Jensen (1929-2007)

Victor Keith Jensen of Pleasant Hill died September 29th, 2007 of "acute numerical ascension" (his number was up) and lymphoma at age 78.


He was born March 10, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, the only child of Victor and Gertrude Jensen (one 12 pounder was enough)! His early years were spent in Washington, D.C. and Panama. He often recalled the wonders of visiting all the national monuments and the fabulous collections of the Smithsonian. Living in Panama was a real cross-cultural experience for him, particularly when combined with summers spent in Costa Rica and Columbia.


His teen years were spent in Southern California, where he attended "beautiful downtown Burbank" High School. Aspiring to further his education, he enrolled at the University of New Mexico. In spite of an undistinguished academic performance, persistence ruled the day and a Baccalaureate degree was the final reward.With the military draft still in effect, he decided on a pre-emptive bid to enter officer training with the Marine Corps. Shortly after receiving his commission, he married Mildred Russell in Tacoma, Washington. The marriage lasted 18 years and produced four sons.


Following discharge from the military, he enrolled at the University of Washington (grateful for the G.I. bill) and received a Master's degree in Social Work. This enabled him to fulfill a long-time interest in the field of juvenile corrections. He spent nearly 18 years in various positions in the field; interrupted by a 5-year stint as an assistant professor with the then newly established School of Community Service and Public Affairs at the University of Oregon. A return to Oregon in 1979 brought him back to teaching, this time at Portland Community College.Two years later, feeling more adventurous, he joined the Peace Corps and was sent to Belize, where he met and later married fellow volunteer, Irene Phillips. Returning to the U.S., they spent time in California before moving to their present home and adopting 3 sibling children from Costa Rica.


Prior to retiring, Keith had the opportunity to gain experience and training in the field of domestic relations mediation, which carried over to post retirement volunteer service to the Lane County Circuit Court, facilitating alternatives to litigation of domestic conflicts. He also served for 9 years on the Pleasant Hill School Board.


With retirement, he became a more than competent cook, read as much as he wanted, re-finished furniture, and finally got his fill of televised sporting events. He lived, and died, with a simple philosophy - "never take yourself too seriously." He touched so many lives along the way with his intelligence, humor and sense of fair play and personal responsibility and his commitment to volunteerism.


Survivors include his wife; sons Michael of Long Beach, CA, David of Gig Harbor, WA, Christopher of San Diego, CA, Daniel of Phoenix, AZ and Cristian of Salem, and daughters Fressia of Pleasant Hill and Jessica of Eugene; nineteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. "Dad", "Pops", "Honey", "Papi", "Mista Keet", "Grandpa", we all miss you and love you so much.


A Memorial Celebration will be held at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, October 7th, 2007 at Mt. Pisgah Arboretum. Musgrove Family Mortuary in charge of arrangements.Published in Eugene Register-Guard on October 6, 2007