Thomas R Jensen

“Tom” Jensen passed away suddenly on Friday January 21, 2022 at the Portneuf Medical Center while in residence at the Pocatello Veterans Home. He was 75. Tom was born to Cleon Lundlie “Tom” and Jennie Royter Jensen in Pocatello, Idaho at the old General Hospital.

Tom grew up in Pocatello where he graduated from Pocatello High School where he made some life-long friendships. He was an active boy scout, played the trumpet, was a member of Poky High’s marching band, and participated in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California.

After graduation he married Mildred “Millie” Hall and worked in the lumber industry with his cousin in New Mexico. Tom was drafted and then inducted into the Army in March of 1966. He was trained as a medic at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas then deployed to Vietnam.

One of the most harrowing and rewarding times of his life was his service as a member of the 1st Air Calvary 1/12th Company C. While in country Tom was almost continually engaged in combat operations, being flown in Huey helicopters to wherever the enemy might be or was known to be. While arduous, exhausting and very dangerous Tom felt proud to be a solider and dearly loved his brothers in Company C. He also came to admire and love the Montagnard people whom he served and worked. In September of 1967 Tom learned while in Vietnam that his wife had given birth to his son, Todd Ray Jensen. 3 months later, while participating in an especially ferocious firefight against vastly superior enemy numbers, Tom raced to the side of his fallen friend and comrade Rick “Bo” Boeshart and was giving him mouth to mouth resuscitation when he was shot through the arm and chest. Tom’s fellow troopers all report that he was infallibly brave and determined to fight and help save his team members. Tom was awarded the Purple Heart and was very proud of his team and their service to their country.

Tom made his career working in logging, as a carman for the Union Pacific Railroad and as a long-haul truck driver. Tom and Millie later divorced, and he married Carol Jenson Peterson who had a daughter Brandee Simpson and they made their home in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Later, Tom and Carol were divorced and he married Dianne Oliver Talcott. They were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 12, 2009 and lived very happily and peacefully together until Dianne’s passing in 2020.

Tom loved nature, fishing, and boating. He was a skilled craftsman and when married to Dianne built a large workshop where he made furniture, pens, and other cleverly designed and beautiful items. Tom almost always owned dogs and cats and loved them dearly. He was always very good with his hands in working on cars, trucks, guns or around the house. Charming and affable Tom loved to laugh and joke around and was good at making his nurses at the Veteran’s Home laugh.

Tom was preceded in Death by his parents Tom and Jennie, his brother Phillip Carl Jensen, and his wife Dianne. He is survived by his son, Todd Ray (Kimberly) Jensen, Brandee Simpson, Grandchildren Joshua Todd (Janica) Jensen, Kirsten Zelda Jensen, Madison Marie Jensen, a great grandson, Jack Walter Jensen, and his loving sister Judy Kirkman of Pocatello.

A special thanks to the outstanding administration and staff of the Veterans home in Pocatello, Idaho where he resided these last few years.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday January 29th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints chapel (Gibson Jack Ward) at 8200 W. Portneuf Rd., Pocatello, Idaho. A viewing will be held the same day at 11am with services starting at 12:00pm.

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