Obituary of Carl H. Jens

Carl H. Jens, 79, longtime Iowa City resident and former teacher, died Monday, October 13, 2014, at Mercy Hospital under the compassionate care of the Hospice Unit. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am Monday, October 20, 2014, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Iowa City. A reception will follow the services, followed by burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 5pm Sunday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Memorial donations can be made in his memory to Hospice Home of Johnson County @ 1229 Goldenrod Drive, Iowa City, IA 52246, Hospicehomejc.org or Iowa City Community Scholl District Foundation @ 1725 N. Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA 52245, iccsdfoundation.org. Carl Henry Jens was born August 15, 1935, near Logan, Iowa the son of Henry and Irene (Barkhoff) Jens. Following graduation from high school in Magnolia, IA; he attended and graduated from Buena Vista College in Storm Lake with his BA degree. He then received his Master's degree from Drake University in Des Moines. On July 29, 1961, Carl was united in marriage to Diana L. Kinman in Adair, Iowa. His teaching career began in Hansell, Iowa; from here he taught at Adair and Decorah, Iowa before moving to Iowa City with his family in 1966. Here he taught at the former Central Junior High School and later at South East Junior High School until his retirement in 1995. In retirement he missed the students, so he continued to do substitute teaching for a couple of years. Carl belonged to local, state and national teaching associations; he was the recipient of the "Teacher of the Year" in 1981 presented by ICEA. H was a member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church, an avid Chicago Cubs fan, a ferocious reader; but most important to him was his family! Being Husband, Dad and Grandpa was simply, the best. Carl's family includes his wife, Diana; son and his wife, Darren and Jodie Jens of Seattle; grandchildren, Rory and Logan Jens, and Chloe Sadler; son-in-law, Scott Sadler (Michelle) of North Liberty; mother-in-law, Genevieve Kinman of Stuart, IA; sisters-in-law, Judy Kopaska of Guthrie Center and Janice Tickor (Veryl) of Casey, Ia; a niece, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by their daughter, Catherine Jens Sadler; a brother, Paul Jens, and his sister, Donna Adams. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Carl's family and his services.