Eric H. Jensen

Eric Harold Jensen was born June 24, 1959 in Rochester MN. His parents were Harold and Frieda (Hovda) Jensen of Grand Meadow, MN. He passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2021. Eric attended Grand Meadow Public School and was a member of Bear Creek Lutheran Church near Grand Meadow. He was a 23 year member of Carpenters Local 1382 holding leadership offices of union steward and a vice president.

Eric was a carpenter by trade, starting his career working with his brother on remodeling and building log homes.  He later went to work with Ladd Baldus building custom cabinetry. Eric’s love of skiing took him to Colorado for 7 years where he worked for cabinet shops, did part-time bartending and met some very famous people (including John Denver). He came back to Minnesota to keep his eye on his parents and to be close to family. He joined the 1382 Carpenters Union as a journeyman and went to work for Benike Construction and Weis Builders at the Mayo Cabinet Shop. Rheumatoid arthritis ended his carpentry career over 10 years ago. 

Eric loved sailing and had his own sail boat “Someday” on Lake Pepin where he spent evenings and weekends while still working as a carpenter. He would volunteer his time making items for the children at the Carpenters “Kids Build” at St. Marys Hospital where old carpenters (like his brother) helped build birdhouses and other items with sick kids. He found wooden pen making in his brother’s shop to be therapeutic, and would give these out to every Mayo Clinic employee (and anyone else) with whom he met. He loved hanging out in his brother’s shop and the two shared conversations about everything from politics to family happenings. Eric had his own comfortable chair and loved to buy dog treats for Gigi, Bonnie, Lulu and Fritzie Jane the Dane.  Howard and Eric usually watched the evening news together before retiring for the evening.  

Family was always important to Eric and he never missed an opportunity to be with his nieces and nephews and the great nieces and nephews.  Holidays and family reunions were top on the list. He was in charge of the annual family “Dice Game” at Christmas, and enjoyed hunting for gifts all year long in preparation. He shared with a longtime friend recently that he was ready to “go, to not be in pain anymore, and that he was in a good place.”  He also shared that he “absolutely loved his family.”  Eric loved his little beagle Gigi, who misses her Daddy and is now residing with Howard and Pat. 

Eric is survived by his sister Elea Jourdan (Rick) of Decorah, IA, and brother Howard Jensen (Patricia) of Grand Meadow, MN. Nieces and nephews: Matt (Andrea) Finholt-Daniel (Molly, Graham and Owen) of Hillsborough, NC.; Megan (Kelvin) Beck (Boden and coming soon-baby Beck)of Woodbury, MN; Dr. Trey Jensen of Forest Lake, MN and Trista Jensen of Roseville, MN.

Funeral services for Eric will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, 2021 at Bear Creek Lutheran Church in rural Grand Meadow, MN with Pastor Larry Iverson officiating. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday at the church prior to the service. 

Online condolences may be left at Hindtfuneralhomes.com

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.