Harry Jensen

Dr. Harry W. Jensen passed on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at age 79 in Sterling, after developing leukemia in 2007. He was a beloved, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and Chiropractic Physician. He was born in Chicago on May 20, 1929, the son of Harry T. and Hattie L. Jensen, who precede him. He received his education in Chicago at Carl Schurz High School, where he participated in football and wrestling. He entered the National College of Chiropractic, as a consequence of a neck injury. He had previously planned to become a civil engineer. He graduated from National College of Chiropractic in 1951 and practiced in Chicago until moving to Dixon in 1953, and then eventually settling permanently in Sterling in 1954. Dr. Jensen received his degree as a Doctor of Chiropractic and Naturopath from the National College of Chiropractic in 1951. He was examined and passed boards in Minnesota, Florida, and Michigan, as well as the Illinois Medical Board. In 1964 he completed a 200 hour program toward board certification in roentgenology. In 1968, he completed a 200 hour course toward board certification in Orthopedics, and in 1992 he began a 350 hour program in Internal Disorders and Diagnosis, receiving his Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Internists (D.A.B.C.I.) in 2000. He served on the board of the Illinois Chiropractic Society for 17 years and as its president for two terms in 1975 and 1976. He was elected Illinois Chiropractor of the Year in 1978. His professional associations included: member of the American Chiropractic Association since 1951, Illinois Chiropractic Society, and Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research since 1971, Council on Diagnostic Imaging, Chiropractic Orthopedics, and Council on Internal Diagnosis and Family Practice. Personally, Dr. Jensen was proud to have served in the Illinois National Guard, 33rd Division, 132nd Infantry Regiment Medical Company from 1950 to 1956, was active in the Sterling-Rock Falls Jaycees serving as president in 1963, a member of the Sinnissippi Rod and Gun club serving as president in 1968. He was also a member of the Sterling Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 1978 to 1980, and has been an active member of the Sterling Rotary since 1972. He served two three year terms on the St. Paul Lutheran Church Council from 1962-1964 and from 1975-1977, and as president in 1964 and 1977, additionally serving as Treasurer in 1990. He also taught Sunday school for 17 years at St. Paul. He earned his private pilots license in 1973 and became a member of the Rock River Country Club in 1966. Harry William Jensen married Joan Pauline Bowers in 1955 and they have six children, twenty grandchildren and one great-grandchild, all of whom survive him. They are: Julie (William) Yemm of Sterling, their children Elizabeth (Christopher) Coon, Paul, Christina, Steve and Allie; Linda (Robert) Jennings of Oldwick, New Jersey, their children Robby, Samantha and Dana; Thomas (Michelle) of Sterling, their children Gavin, Elliot and Alena; Joan (Jeff) March of Lexington, North Carolina, their children Morgan and Anjelica; William (Barbara Jean) of James Island, South Carolina, their children William David and Theresa Ann and William David's son, William Eason; Karen (Andrew) Lansam of Wellington, Florida, their children Christina, Luke, Grace, Joshua and Caroline. He is also survived by one sister, Marilyn Thomas, her children, and cousins Betty, Jeri, Jackie, and Diana of Chicago and Florida. Harry enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter, boater, camper, water and snow skier. All family vacations centered around the outdoors, with many weekends spent on the Mississippi River while the children were growing up Harry was not only a well-respected physician, but was loved by all those who knew him. He served his patients until his retirement on December 23, 2008. Some of his original patients were still with him fifty-five years later. Visitation will be on Friday January 23, 2009 from 5 to 8 PM at the Schilling Funeral Home. The service will Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 10:30 AM at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the pastor Judith Huseth officiating, A lunch will follow at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Memorials have been established to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church and National University of Health Sciences, formerly National College of Chiropractic, in Lombard, Illinois.