Arthur R. Jensen

Arthur R. Jensen, 88, of Grundy Center, died Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Grundy County Memorial Hospital, while under the care of Cedar Valley Hospice, of natural causes.

Services 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, Grundy Center, with burial in Washington Township Cemetary, Tama County. Public visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. today at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home, Grundy Center.

My life has been, not outstanding in any way. Put on a chart the highs would equal the lows, the successes the failures.

Achievement level "C".

But the important part:

I have been, from infancy to the present time, totally enveloped in love. It has come from every imaginable source. First of all, the love of God. It was so intense that He came as a man, gave His life for mine that I could spend my life with Him. I Corinthians 13 best describes what love really is. It's not the easily said, easily forgotten platitude that it has become. But rather the most moving force on earth. I have been loved all my life by people who without reason did so. I have known 60 years of love from Pat. All of Polly and Karen's lives, my Granddaughter Lisa and her husband Brian and their children Reese and Robert. I'll not name other names. There are too many and I don't want to offend by omitting someone. My family, those related to me, everyone surrounding me that have given of themselves without reservation, without a precommitment and without condemnation, have been my great great source of strength. It has consumed, it has enveloped, it has totally brought me within its sphere. I don't think I need go any farther than that. I cannot tell you in words how much you all have meant to me. So you fill in the blank spaces.

Lou Gehrig, the "Iron Man" of baseball, in his final, probably only speech in Yankee Stadium, closed with this statement which I will paraphrase, "I believe I am the most blessed man in all the Earth."

Attainment level "A"

Wow. Isn't he cool?

Our youth group had the privilege of visiting Art Wednesday just one short hour before he went to Heaven. We sang to him, and even though he was not able to respond to us, we hope he heard the words that, we feel, were written just for him.


Thank You for Giving
to The Lord
Music & Lyrics by Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to Heaven, you were there with me.
We walked upon the streets of gold beside the Crystal Sea.
We heard the angels singing, then someone called your name.
You turned and saw this young man, and he was smiling as he came.

He said, "Friend you may not know me now," and then he said, "But wait -
You used to teach my Sunday School, when I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.

Then another man stood before you, he said "Remember the time,
A missionary came to your church, His pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money but you gave it anyway.
Jesus took that gift you gave
And that's why I'm in Heaven today"

Chorus


One by one they came, far as your eyes could see.
Each life somehow touched by your generosity.
Little things that you had done, sacrifices that you made,
They were unnoticed on this earth
In Heaven now proclaimed.

Chorus


And I know up in Heaven you're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord
He said "My child look around you,
Great is your reward."

Chorus

Art's daughters asked the teens if they would sing this song at his funeral. They're going to give it their best shot.

One of the last things I ever said to Art was, "I want to be just like you when I grow up".

"For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you." Proverbs 3:2