John T. Jensen —————— § —————— June 17, 1939 - January 3, 2024 John T. Jensen, 84, died on Jan. 3, 2024, due to complications from leukemia. John was born on June 17, 1939, in Hawthorne, Nev., to Verna and Louis Jensen. On Dec. 18, 1965, he married Charlotte Jensen, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anchorage, Alaska. John attended kindergarten in San Diego, Calif., before moving to Montana with his parents and brother, Duane. They purchased the Holland Lake Lodge in Montana in 1947. A fire burned the picturesque log lodge to the ground the day before guests were scheduled to arrive. Following the loss of the lodge, John's family lived briefly in John Day, Ore., before moving to Craig, Neb., near his father's family farm. John's mother was hired as the elementary school teacher in Alaska and John's father was hired as the special assistant. In 1949, John, his brother, parents and pet dog Tugger traveled north and across the Alaska Highway to the small Athabaskan village of Tanacross, Alaska. Due to space constraints in their single cab Ford pickup, John sat on his mother's lap for all 5985.1 miles of the trip. In John's manuscript about his life, he wrote: "In Tanacross the northern lights hung in the sky like beautiful green sheets rippling in the breeze. I remember sound carried so well when it was 60 below. We used to go out and play when it warmed up to 20 below. Living close to the land is still important to many Alaskans and, as we become more urbanized, it appears many of us are looking back to see where we have been." Following the closing of the school, John's mother, Verna accepted a teaching job at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka, Alaska. John graduated from Sitka High School in 1958. Immediately following high school, John worked for the Sitka Pulp Mill as a construction laborer helping dig tunnels to Blue Lake that provided water for the city and the Pulp Mill. He used his earnings to pay for college. John attended the University of New Mexico Military Institute, the University of Idaho (B.A.), Colorado State (M.A.) and the University of Colorado (Ed.S.). Following his education, in 1963 John moved to Anchorage where he built the family home, met his wife Charlotte and raised two children, Kay and Mike. In 1964, he accepted a job with the Anchorage School District where he worked primarily as an Industrial Arts Teacher for 31 years. John also owned a commercial setnet site on the Combine Flats of the Nushagak River. He operated the site with his son Mike from 1987 to 1999. He was not afraid of hard work and setnetting gave him the opportunity to work outdoors. During summers, John could be found with a flyrod or a camera. John was an avid sport fisherman and captured the grandeur of our state over the years. John enjoyed reading, travel and painting. In his 70s, he discovered ballroom dancing. John was well known for being a "do-it-your-selfer" and a jack-of-all-trades. He could fix just about anything. His son Mike learned many of these skills while holding a flashlight for his dad over the years. John was a member of Pioneers of Alaska, Anchorage Igloo #15, Sons of Norway and the Anchorage Federation of Teachers #1175. He could be found helping with the Pioneers annual pancake feed during the annual Fur Rondy celebration. He was a Fur Rondy Board Member for 10 years and volunteered countless hours with the Charlotte Jensen Native Arts Market since 1995. He made many friendships over the years with Alaska Natives who traveled to the event from all over the state. John is survived by his partner, Kay Gatlin; children, Mike and Kay; and grandchildren, Lauren, Elias and Rainey. John was preceded in death by his parents, Verna and Louis; brother, Duane (1968); and wife, Charlotte (2010.) John's Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2901 East Huffman Road. A reception will follow. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Carpenter's Hall, 407 Denali Street, on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. The Jensen family invites you to share a brief story of how John touched your life. John was a frequent donor to the Blood Bank of Alaska. He donated 18 gallons of blood over his lifetime. He donated to benefit those in need of his rare blood type. John's final wishes included, "Give blood - Be a donor." Please donate blood in his name. He also requested the consideration of monetary donations to the Blood Bank of Alaska, Dollars for Dogs, the Anchorage Public Library and the Nature Conservancy.