Harvard Nielsen Jensen

Harvard Jensen BORN: September 10, 1923 DIED: August 19, 2009 LOCATION: UT Harvard Nielsen Jensen 1923 - 2009 Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend Harvard Nielsen Jensen passed away peacefully at his home on August 19 from the effects of pancreatitis and respiratory failure. He is survived by his younger brother Gerald; his three children Steve, Stan, and Laura; and by 14 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Harv was born September 10, 1923, the 6th of 8 children of Aaron and Millie Jensen in the small farming community of Mantua, Utah. As a young man, he served in the U.S. Navy for 38 months in Oklahoma and Corpus Christi, Texas. After his return to Utah, he moved to Provo to attend BYU. In a drama class, he met a beautiful young lady named Phyllis, who he described in his journal as "lovely and sweet", and whose cheerful personality, faith, and courage inspired him to be the best he could be. They were married on March 16, 1951 in the Idaho Falls temple. From the day of their engagement, through 58 years of marriage until she passed away this past April, Phyllis was his constant inspiration.

Harv's career included selling, teaching school, and working as an educational consultant. But he told his family that his favorite job ever was driving tour buses as a young man through the national parks in Southern Utah. Harv loved music, being outdoors, and working in his yard. But nothing made him happier than being with his family-his sweetheart Phyllis, and his children and grandchildren.

To those who knew Harv, he was a friendly, gentle, kind, and caring man. It was natural for him to reach out to people, to say hi, to express genuine interest in what was going on in their lives. He served in many church callings, including a mission with Phyllis to Oklahoma, but perhaps most of all he loved serving in the temple.

Funeral Services will be held Friday August 28 at 1pm at the Hillcrest 1st Ward chapel at 1450 South 800 East in Orem. There will be a viewing at the same location from 11:30-12:45. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery.