Mark E. Jensen
Dr. Mark E. Jensen, son, brother, nephew, uncle, husband, father and friend, 54, of Huson, died of natural causes, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, at his residence in the Ninemile, so proudly crafted by his own hands, years of hard work and timbers off his beautiful property.He was born Dec. 13, 1954, in Jacksonville, Fla., to Capt. Wayne Leroy Jensen and Dorothy Katherine Jensen.
Mark attended the University of California graduating at Berkeley, and for one year studied at St. Andrews University in Scotland. He received his doctorate at Oregon State University.
Mark served 32 years with the U.S. Forest Service holding many positions such as regional analyst, program leader for ecological applications service team, research ecologist, regional soil scientist, regional quantitative ecologist and many others.
On Jan. 6, 2005, Mark married Waldina Gomez in Missoula. On July 2, 2006, Mark's son, Kyler, was born. On Dec. 13, 1996, Mark's daughter, Olivia, was born. On July 12, 1995, Mark's twin sons, Sean and Kincaid, were born. Mark and Waldina, with all their children, resided in the family home in the Ninemile.
Mark received the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Unsung Hero Award and the Best Technical Paper Award from the ESRI International GIS User Conference. He was a certified senior ecologist through the Ecological Society of America and a member of the Zoological Society of San Diego. Mark thoroughly enjoyed cooking and through the years has made incredible meals for us all. Along with cooking he lived for the opportunity to play music and proved to be quite talented in all aspects of music. We all have enjoyed the times Mark was able to sit with friends and pick a few favorites. Mark had many favorite pastimes, including travel to Mexico and Hawaii, and numerous trips back to San Diego to spend time with his father, all the while taking his children on great adventures. Mark was proud to be able to take his kids with him on personal and professional trips and create fun and memorable experiences. Mark loved sitting on the deck to enjoy the view of the river. This gave him a time of peace and serenity while reflecting on the good times.
He wrote many articles for professional journals and authored several books on the subject of soil science and related systems on how to save and secure the resources of the northwest United States. He lectured at numerous professional gatherings around the world and was recognized as the most respected authority on his subject by his peers and government officials. He was always optimistic and hopeful that his recommendations would be accepted by government and be funded and implemented. He was truly loved and appreciated by all who knew him. His ties to family were strong and his love for them was unequalled.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Stephen Jensen; and mother, Dorothy Jensen.
Survivors include his wife, Waldina of Huson; son, Kyler (3) of Huson; daughter, Olivia (12) of Missoula; twin sons, Sean and Kincaid (14) of Missoula; twin brother, Merrill of Albuquerque, N.M.; father, Wayne Jensen of Chula Vista, Calif.; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and longtime friends and co-workers.
Services and a celebration of Mark's life are planned for 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at his home at 27395 River Run Road, Ninemile, Huson, with Mark Hasenyager officiating. A private family burial will take place at a later time. A reception will follow immediately after, at the family home in Huson
The family suggests donations to the Jensen children (Sean, Kincaid, Olivia, Kyler) to be deposited in a designated account set up in the Jensen children's names at Clark Fork Valley Bank, P.O. Box 537, Frenchtown, MT 59834.
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