Sidney Joseph Jenson

life story

Sidney Joseph Jenson was a man with nine lives.

Stubborn and firm in his desire to live, he cheated death many times throughout his life before joining it.

He was born the second of eight children on April 22nd, 1937, in Fort Dodge, IA and was raised near Kerkhoven, MN before moving to Minneapolis in the 1960s. He met his wife in the back of a Greyhound bus and subsequently spent every penny he had to see her again and win her affection. Eventually, he did. They spent 54 years together.

Sid was uncommonly strong, self-determined, funny, and smarter than anyone gave him credit for. He raced cars with James Dean (who he described as “just an okay driver but a really nice guy”), heard Prince play long before the rest of us did (and was impressed by his guitar skills but not so much with his singing), and was a neighbor to Bob Dylan (or as he referred to him “Bob Zimmerman that asshole”).

He was a voracious reader who loved Westerns, cats, vulgarity, and reminding his family of just how much he loved them. He led a very full life before he passed away peacefully the morning of August 10th, 2022 surrounded by family and having lived far longer than any doctor ever expected him to. He will be greatly missed.

Sid is preceded in death by his mother Gladys, father Alton, and granddaughter Devon. He is survived by his children, Lori, Renee (Dan), Kris (Jeff) and Daren (Dawn), adoring grandchildren, Drew (24), Abi (20), Maija (17), and Josh (16), and his devoted wife, Linda.