Loren Fred Jensen

Notes:

Loren Fred Jensen was born on May 31, 1931 on a farm just north of Nora, Nebraska to Hans and Lillian (Kotas) Jensen. Loren passed away peacefully after a long illness at the Good Samaritan nursing home in Superior on August 26th, 2016. He was 85 years old.

Loren was born during the Depression and farming was a struggle. His father, Hans, moved his family from rural Nora to a wheat farm near Delphos, Kansas when Loren was about three years old and then to Idaho five years later after Hans was told there were many jobs in that area. But Hans found good jobs were scarce and he moved his family back to Nebraska on what was known as the "Simic Place" before settling three and a half miles northwest of Oak where Loren would later farm in his adult life.

Loren last attended grade school and completed the eighth grade at the Carlin country school near the farm. Loren went on to high school and graduated in 1949 from Nelson High where he played football and was a starting guard on the basketball team. He also loved the agriculture classes and joined in nearly every extracurricular activity that was offered.

After graduating from high school, Loren joined the Marines as a Reserve and was called up in 1952. He was stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina for two months, but his father's failing health led to an early discharge for Loren so he could return home and help with the family farming operation.

On May 24th, 1953, Loren was united in marriage to Cloma King, daughter of Ivan and Luella (Kinnison) King of Angus. To this marriage was born three sons, Tom, Terry and Todd. Initially Loren and Cloma lived in Angus, but eight months after Tom was born, they moved to the family farm after Hans decided to retire.

Loren and Cloma divorced and on May 2nd, 1980 Loren married Barb (Crouch) McLaughlin the daughter of Harold and Janet (Scroggin) Crouch. Loren and Barb resided in Millbrook, Alabama for nearly two years before returning to live in Edgar for a short time prior to buying a home in Nelson in which they lived 13 years. They left Nelson in 1994 to move into Barb's childhood home after the passing of her parents and that is where Loren called home at the time of his death.

Loren had many interests and passions in his life. Number one was his family but a close second was all Husker sports, especially Nebraska football. In retirement, Loren became literally a world-renowned expert in increasing the population of Bluebirds. He maintained ninety-nine bluebird boxes, almost all of which he built, and it was not uncommon for him to oversee the hatch of 500 Bluebirds in a season. This led to Loren receiving phone calls from as far away as Canada with requests for his Blue Birding secrets.

Loren was extremely active in his communities, serving on many boards including at one time being the President of the Nuckolls County Extension Board and the Oak School Board.

Loren was a much sought-after master of ceremonies because of his easy style at the podium, deep speaking voice and his quick wit. He also announced many community events and was proud to be known as "The Voice of the Tigers" when he began announcing Nelson High School football games in the fall of 1966 which he would continue to do through the 1977 season including the 1975 state championship year.

One of Loren's proudest accomplishments as a farmer was the establishment of a registered Shorthorn cow herd that grew from a single heifer to nearly 40 cows. It was something he shared with his brother, Eugene, who served as secretary of this business with the primary responsibility of coming up with registered names.

After marrying Barb, Loren gave up day to day activity on the farm and eventually sold his prized Shorthorns. This allowed Loren to scratch off most of the things on his "Bucket List."

He was able to spend two months each winter at South Padre Island in Texas where he nearly put Oysters--his favorite seafood--on the endangered species list after trying to eat all of them at every restaurant in the area. His favorite place was an eatery called "Dirty Al's" and one of Loren's greatest accomplishments was getting a picture taken with Dirty Al himself.

Loren and Barb also traveled to Estes Park twice a year, attended all the Husker football home games and many bowl games too. They took several other trips as well including a trek to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1986 to follow the Oak Softball fast pitch team play in the National Tournament. Loren and Barb were Oak Softball's number one fans, and rarely'97if ever'97missed a game.

In his final years of being able to travel Loren really enjoyed going to all of Elkhorn High School's football games to watch his grandson, Bryan, play. Loren never got to attend Bryan's college games at Midland University in Fremont but remained Bryan's number one fan.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Wilma and Betty and his brother Eugene.

Loren is survived by his wife of 36 years, Barb of Edgar; His sons, Tom and wife Jackie of Nelson; Terry of Nelson; Todd of Oak; step-son John McLaughlin and wife, Jodi, of Hastings; step-son Mark McLaughlin and wife Deb of Elkhorn; grandsons, Terrance Jensen, Vince Jensen, Josh McLaughlin, Bryan McLaughlin; granddaughters, Kaela Baumbach, Abby Jensen, Amanda Jensen, Ashley McLaughlin and seven great-grandchildren; brother Darrell Jensen and wife Donna of Superior, NE; nieces, nephews other relatives and his many friends.

Funeral services will be held this Monday 10:00 AM, August 29, 2016 at the Williams Funeral Home Chapel in Edgar, NE. Pastor Ralph Sturdy will be officiating. Family burial will be held in the Evergreen Cemetery, Superior, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family at wmsfh.com.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Family/Spouse: Cloma Rae King. Cloma was born on 7 Feb 1936 in Angus, Nuckolls, Nebraska; died on 8 Jul 2021 in Superior, Nuckolls County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

SSN 518-12-8878

Hans married Lillian Emma Kotas on 24 Mar 1920 in Hebron, Thayer County, Nebraska. Lillian (daughter of Fred E. Kotas and Anna Bedlan) was born on 20 Apr 1899 in Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 31 Mar 1992 in Nelson, Nuckolls County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Census Information:

Nebraska, Nuckolls County, Nora Precinct
Enumerated April 15, 1930 by
ED 65-16 SD 10 Sheet 1B
22-22
Jensen, Hans Hd M W 40 M 30 Neb Denmark Denmark Farmer
Jensen, Lillian Wf F W 30 M 21 Neb Neb Neb
Jensen, Eugene Son M W 7 S Neb Neb Neb
Jensen, Betty Dtr F W 1 3/12 S Neb Neb Neb

Notes:

Married:
They were the parents of Wilma Gladys who died in infancy; Eugene Thomas who never married; Betty Ann who married Gerald MILLER; Loren Fred who married Cloma KING and Darrell Leon who married Donna TROUDT. (Milligan, p 353).

Notes:

(Research):Census Information:

1900 Census
Nebraska, Gage County, Filley Twp
Enumerated 14 Jun 1900 By Charles S. Boggs
SD 4 ED 50 Sheet 5A Stamped 157
75-75
Jensen, Thomas Hd W M Jan 1859 41 M 14 Denmark Denmark Denmark 1880 20 Na Farmer
Jensen, Charlotte Wife W F Oct 1858 41 M14 6/6 Denmark Denmark Denmark 1880 20
Jensen, Claus P Son W M Apr 1887 13 S Neb Denmark Denmark
Jensen, Han C Son W M Oct 1889 10 S Neb Denmark Denmark
Jensen, John Son W M Jan 1892 8 S Neb Denmark Denmark
Jensen, Pearl Dtr W F Feb 1894 6 S Neb Denmark Denmark
Jensen, Katie Dtr W F Jan 1897 3 S Neb Denmark Denmark
Jensen, Rosa Dtr W F Oct 1989 1 S Neb Denmark Denmark
Burkenfine, Mary Servant W F July 1891 15 S Neb Indiana Indiana Servant

Thomas married Charlotte Berg about 1886. Charlotte was born in Oct 1858 in Denmark; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Fred married Anna Bedlan on 2 Mar 1897 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Anna (daughter of Jan "John" Bedlan and Johanna Janous) was born on 3 May 1876 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 9 Aug 1971 in Nelson, Nuckolls County, Nebraska; was buried in Davenport Cemetery, Thayer County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of John BEDLAN and Johanna JANOUS. (Milligan, p 353).

Notes:

Married:
The farmed near Exeter, Nebraska. later moving to a farm in Nuckolls County, between Oak and Davenport, Nebraska. After farming 50 years, they retired to Davenport. (Milligan, p 353).

Notes:

Joseph Kotas claimed 80 acres as a homestead just east of his father and brother, W 1/2 NE 1/4 on March 6, 1871. He later cancelled this to purchase land from the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad in Glengary Township. After they completed the purchase of this land, they sold it to his parents. The first Catholic Church was built here. He bought and sold much land in the Milligan area, as well as operating several business. He served as Town Marshall as well (Milligan, p 359).

Joseph married Marie Kubicek on 2 Jan 1873 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Marie was born before 1855 in Nezamyslice, Pisek, Bohemia; died on 2 Mar 1927 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Joseph KUBICEK and Anna JELINEK. (Milligan, p 359).

Notes:

Married:
Joseph KOTAS, age 24, married Mary KUBICEK, age 22, on January 2, 1873 at the office of the County Judge in Geneva. John BLAIR and Joseph RUZICKA were the witnesses. Sons Joie, Emil and Rudolph died as infants. (Milligan, p 273).

Jan married Johanna Janous. Johanna was born about 1859 in Bohemia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]