Bryan Jensen

Bryan Donald Jensen, 50, of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, died Saturday afternoon, August 20, 2011, in Kansas City, MO, when his aerobatic biplane crashed at the Kansas City Aviation Expo Air Show.

Bryan was born on June 11, 1961, in Atlantic, IA to Don and Marcella (Kay) Jensen. He graduated from Atlantic High School in 1979, where he wrestled and enjoyed playing football. Bryan started flying at the age of 13, after finding a $5 "Learn to Fly" coupon in the local newspaper. He soloed at the age of 16, even before obtaining his driver's license.

Bryan graduated from the University of North Dakota in May 1983 with a BSBA in Aeronautical Studies and a minor in Geography. He was a flight instructor his first three years at UND. During his senior college year, he was a charter pilot for Northern Airways. Bryan was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

After graduation, he was hired by ACA Airlines and then TransWestern Airlines in Salt Lake City, which later became Horizon Airlines, basing him in Portland, Oregon. In 1985 Bryan was hired by Republican Airlines in Minneapolis, which became Northwest Airlines in 1989. He was named captain in 1994. Following the Northwest Airlines and Delta merger, he became a 747 pilot, flying international routes.

Bryan's passion was flying. He had an obsession with flying as far back as anyone can remember. He flew aerobatics for 17 years and logged over 23,000 hours of flight time. His custom-made aerobatic plane "The Beast' was the only piston-powered biplane on the air show circuit with greater than 1:1 thrust to weight.

Bryan is survived by his father, Don Jensen and wife, Sharon McDermott Jensen of Atlantic; three sisters, Jonelle (Charles) Ruffing of Atlantic, Peggy (Craig) Medvec of Naperville, IL, and Marcy Jensen of Columbus, OH, Bryan's life partner, Christine Gerner of Lakeville, MN; one nephew, Javen (Kathy) Smith of Atlantic; three nieces, Jennifer (Don) Slagle of Johnston, IA, Kristen Medvec of West Des Moines, IA, and Katie Medvec of Naperville, IL; as well as four great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Marcella Jensen, and his grandparents, Alfred & Ada Jensen and Elden & Mayme Kay.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 25, 2011, at 2:00 p.m. at the Cass County Community Center in Atlantic, Iowa. No formal visitation will be held. Refreshments will be served with family present to greet friends after the service, also at the Cass County Community Center.

Burial will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Mid American Youth Aviation Association, The University of North Dakota Aviation Student Scholarship Fund or www.helpfourpaws.org in Bryan's name.

Hockenberry Family Care of Atlantic, Iowa, is assisting the family with arrangements.