Sigurd Jensen Obituary

Sigurd Lars Jensen Jr April 18, 1940 - July 25, 2007. Col. Sigurd Jensen passed away 25 July 2007 at Liberty Heights Manor, Colorado Springs, CO after a prolonged illness. His family was able to be at his side during his final days and at his peaceful passing. "Sig" was born 18 April 1920 in Norfolk VA to Sigurd and Virginia Jensen, raised on Linwood Ave. in Baltimore, MD. Graduating from Calvert Hall in 1939 as a distinguished athlete, he attended Western Maryland College. Following his sophomore year, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps soon after the Pearl Harbor attack and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1942. In Aug 1943, after graduating flight training at George Field, IL, he was assigned to the Eighth Air Force piloting B-17 and B-24 bombers. He flew over 270 combat mission hours over Normandy and in the European Theatre where he was decorated for his command piloting. Returning to the States in 1946, he served as a B-17 instructor pilot at the Air Corps Training Center in Sebring, FL. After the war he returned to Western Maryland College and completed his Bachelor of Arts while excelling in football, boxing and tennis and was later inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame. Upon graduation, he signed to play professional football with the New York Giants following his participation on the 1947 College All Star Football team. His sports career ended when he was recalled to active duty to serve in the newly established US Air Force. Service Schools included: Communications Officer School – Aug 1945; Army Language for Spanish – Apr 1952 and International Strategic Intelligence – Oct 1952. He served tours in Guam and Panama and then served as the Assistant Air Attaché to the US Embassy in Mexico, 1952-1956, and Executive Officer to the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force, 1956-1961. Sig was then assigned to the Air Force Academy serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations and as Executive Officer to two Superintendents of the Academy, 1961-1967. He transferred to Wiesbaden, Germany in 1967 holding distinguished positions as Deputy Commander for Services of the 7101st Air Base Wing; Assistant Chief of Staff at HQ USAF in Europe; and Executive to the Commander in Chief, USAFE. Returning to combat, he commanded the 366th Combat Support Group at Da Nang Air Field, Republic of Viet-Nam and served as Deputy Commander of Ton San Nhut's 377th Combat Support Group. In 1972 Col Jensen was named Base Commander at Laurence G. Hanscom Field and Commander of the 3245th Air Base Group, Electronics Systems Division, Air Force Systems Command. His service awards and decorations included: The Legion of Merit - two Oak Leaf Clusters; the Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Medal - three Oak Leaf Clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal - one Oak Leaf Cluster; Mexican Military Medal of Merit and the Vietnamese Honor Medal First Class. In 1978, Sig became the Athletic Director and Foreign Language Teacher at Lewis-Palmer Middle School in Monument, CO. Completing his Master's of Arts degree in Education Administration at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in 1980, he assumed the additional position of Assistant Principal. In 1985 Sig retired to Ft. Myers, FL for 15 years and returned to Colorado Springs residing at Liberty Heights since 2000. Sig was a member of the Scottish Rite and Masonic Order, 32nd Degree and a member of the Araba Shrine in Ft. Myers, FL. He also was a life member of the Daedalians, the 8th Air Force Association, US Air Force Association; and Military Officers Association. Colonel Sig Jensen is survived by his wife of 63 wonderful years, Edith Bell of New Rochelle, NY; his younger brother Wilbur of Towson, MD; sons: Sigurd III his wife Patricia and the late Lance Peter's wife Karen; daughters: Candace Bacalis and Lisabel Davis, her husband Gregg. He also has six grandsons: Sean Oldham, Brigham Jensen, Lars Jensen, Nathan, Jens and Dane Davis, and 1 granddaughter, Lindsy Davis. Sig was a warm, smart, generous and caring husband, father, grandfather, leader, teacher and friend. He was devoted citizen, warrior and patriot. His wonderful life will be celebrated at an Anglican Memorial Service for family and friends to be held at 2:00 pm on Tues, 31 July at Liberty Heights. Col Sig Jensen will be inurned at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Gifts in his memory may be sent to the Operation Family Fund, which provides for the families of service men and women who have been killed or severely disabled during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The address is: Operation Family Fund USPO Box 837, Ridgecrest, CA 93556