Donna Lou Jensen, age 88, passed away on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at Hilltop Lodge Nursing Home, Beloit, Kansas. She was born on May 7, 1932, on the homestead in Jamestown, Kansas, to Harry S. & Edith Mae (Studer) Rank.
She was a graduate of Jamestown High School. She married Melvin “Pret” Jensen on June 21, 1949, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and he preceded her in death on October 28, 2008. To this union five children were born, Janet, Jim, Judy, Jerry, and Jolene.
She was a farm wife, homemaker and mother. In 1966, at the age of 34, she became the caretaker of Pret for many years after a skiing accident.
Donna Lou also worked for Cheyenne Lodge as a cook and nurse’s aide. Donna Lou and Pret owned and operated the Jamestown Tavern where she also cooked many meals for local patrons. For many years Donna Lou was a babysitter for many of the local children of the Jamestown community. She loved gardening, canning, cooking, farm life and most of all spending time with her family and friends, especially all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
She was a past member of the Jamestown Presbyterian Church and later joined the Jamestown United Methodist Church. She also was a member of E.H.U. women’s group.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet Croisant and (Terry) of Beloit, Kan.; Jim Jensen (Diane) Wichita, Kan.; daughter, Judy Baugh (Greg), Salina, Kan.; Jerry Jensen (Marcia), Jamestown, Kan.; daughter, Jolene Hughes (Bill), East Moline, Ill.; 13 grandchildren & 21 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin “Pret” Jensen, her parents Harry and Edith, three sisters, Opal Chaput, Bessie Issacson, Opal Roy, one brother, Cecil Dale.
Graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at the Jamestown Cemetery, Jamestown, Kansas, with Pastor Al Paredes officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 15, from 1-8 p.m. at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, Kansas. The family suggests memorials to Solomon Valley Hospice or Hilltop Lodge Retirement Home in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com.
