Fay Jensen

Fay was born September 14th, 1940, to Mildred and Maynard Leib. She was born in farm house just south of the dam located in what we now call Lake Anita State Park. Just before starting school her parents relocated to a farm near Guthrie Center. She attended rural Country School Union # 8 and # 9, and was a 1959 graduate from the Guthrie Center High School. Fay's Dad, Maynard, played the violin at several barn dances and this is how she met Wayne Jensen August 18th, 1956. She married Wayne February 18th, 1959. They resided on a farm south of Casey following their marriage. Just before their third anniversary, they moved with their two small children, Don and Sherry, to another farm northeast of Camby. In January of 1967, they bought their first farm northwest of Anita. It was so nice with electricity, running water, and a nice flat river bottom to farm. Shortly after, along came their last child Donna, in 1969.


On this farm they milked cows, had a beef herd, furrowed sows year around, gathered eggs, dressed chickens, harvested pickup loads of sweet corn and potatoes. Everything was done together; chores, field work, gardening, cutting wood, and all the fun stuff too. Mom made sure all the birthdays, and holidays were as fun and perfect as possible with presents, cakes, games, and balloons. Fay sent a card to someone nearly everyday for a birthday or because they laid heavy on her heart. She never forgot one holiday clear to her last day - Fathers Day.


She and Wayne became members of the United Methodist Church when they moved to Anita in 1967. She immediately became involved in the church helping with Women's Society for Christian Service and the United Methodist Women. Became chairman of the Happy Helpers, Women of Faith and Cradle Roll. She led the United Methodist Youth Fellowship while her kids were growing up, and was the Vacation Bible School Director and Sunday School Superintendent several years. She coordinated the Turkey Supper several years, made albums as Church Historian, kept the records for church membership, and sang in the choir. That doesn't even begin to tell you her countless hours of Christian service outside the church; caring for elderly friends and neighbors; delivering care packages during the holidays to shut-ins, and taking communion to the elderly members homes with copies of the church services. Mom was a servant to all that new her, she was always the first one to help when needed and the last to leave. She was a great caretaker, and never liked to burden anyone. If you knew her...you loved her.


Her yard is adorned with flowers blooming from all seasons, spring to fall. Fresh flowers were always on the table and the frig was always covered with clippings and proud pictures of her grandchildren. She had a huge garden and orchard, and loved how it brought her children home to help with the harvest. She was also the best pie and roll maker in the world. You may know since she always took pies to the church auctions, and baked for the Anita Sale Barn and Valley Restaurant for several years. Nothing came before her faith, family, friends, and farm.


Her and Wayne celebrated their 50th Anniversary this past February, and have lived a beautiful life together. This past September she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She fought the fight, kept the faith, and we are so very proud of her. Fay LaVonne (Leib) Jensen returned to her Heavenly Father to receive her wings on Father's Day, June 21, 2009. She departed from the Cass County Hospital surrounded by those who loved her.

Fay is survived by her husband, Wayne Jensen of Anita, Iowa; her children Don (Terrie) Jensen of Atlantic; Sherry (Bill) Gerlock of Cumberland; and Donna (Dean) Schwenke of Atlantic; her brothers, Darrell (LaVonne) Leib of Kimballton and Don (Jane) Leib of Des Moines; her sisters, Gail Kallesen of Florida and Nancy (Bill) Grote of Wisconsin; and her mother-in-law, Connie Jensen of Lenox. God blessed her with 10 grandkids and 11 great-grandkids to brighten her days and carry her legacy forward. Her grandchildren are Ryan (Eva) Jensen of Anita, Jessie Jensen (fiancé-Dave McClaskey) of Ankeny, Joe (Jodi) King of Marne, Rodney King of California, Jaquie King (fiancé- Nathan Wilson) of Oklahoma, Emily (Jason) Rouse of Cumberland, Heath (Leonora) Gerlock of Anita, and Clarke (Rebeka) Gerlock of Cumberland, Bradley and Darrian Schwenke of Atlantic. Her great-grandchildren are Paige Jensen of Anita; Cole and Gabby Holaday of Marne; Ashely and Alan King of Marne; Gabe, Lydia, Elizabeth and William Rouse of Cumberland; Aletheia Gerlock of Anita; and Ellen and Megan Gerlock of Cumberland.


She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Maynard Leib; her parents-in-law, Mildred and Earnest Jensen; brother-in-law, Lyle Kallesen; and sister-in-law, Kathy Leib.


Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, June 25, 2009, at the United Methodist Church in Anita, Iowa.

Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Anita. In her honor, 50 pink balloons will be released for 50 years of blessed marriage. The color pink was chosen to represent her strength for battling cancer. She worked so hard and came home for seven precious weeks that were filled with a lifetime of memories.


Visitation will be from 12:00 to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at the Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Anita, family will be present from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.