Dean Elmer Jensen peacefully passed on New Year's Day, 2024 In Prescott, Arizona. He is now reunited with his "beautiful bride" of 58 years, Donna, who passed in 2009.

Dean was born in Southgate, California to Elmer and Etta Jensen on December 29, 1928. He grew up in Van Nuys. His mother died when he was 15 leaving him, his dad and his younger brother Lewis to fend for themselves. He joined the Navy in 1946 and married the love of his life Donna on August 25, 1951. They began their adventure as a military family when Dean was immediately stationed in Newport, Rhode Island and his young bride followed him out while being pregnant with their first child. After a year, and the birth of their first son Steve, the Navy brought them back to California where Donna had four more children, Stan, Sandy, Dean and Sharon. Baby Dean passed shortly after birth in 1957. While stationed at Point Mugu they bought a home in Port Hueneme unknowingly living next door to his future employer.

In 1959 Dean switched to the Air Force and was sent to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Three years later he was assigned to Oxnard Air Force Base and they bought a home "out in the sticks" in Camarillo. There he completed his military career and retired in 1967. He began working for his eventual lifelong friends, Bill and Kay Thompson, who had been starting up an independent gas company called Power Thrust in Oxnard. 

After spending many family vacations in Bass Lake since 1968, they built their own cabin there in 1980. Eventually they retired to Bass Lake in 1992. Many years were spent enjoying their home as a vacation place for their own grown children. There Dean became very active as a member of the Bass Lake Volunteer Firefighters, Elks Lodge President of the Bass Lake Homeowners Association and the Bass Lake Citizen Patrol.

When Donna passed away in 2009 he moved to Prescott, Arizona, following his daughter Sharon and her husband Ken who retired there. There he spent his remaining years with his faithful dog Muggs. Knowing no stranger he became a recognizable sight driving "Muggs' Buggy" around with Muggs sitting shotgun to the delight of all the neighbors.

Preceding him in death was his mother Etta in 1943, his father Elmer in 1984, his son Dean in 1957, his wife Donna in 2009, his brother Lewis in 2022 and his grandson Sean Payne Jensen

He is survived by his children Steven Dean Jensen (Marty), Stanley David Jensen (Dawn), Sandra Dee Jensen, and Sharon Donna (Ken) Maffei. Grandchildren Johnny Jensen, Julie Jensen (Dylan, Austin) Diane Lara (Gregory, Megan, Madison), Erica (Mike) Mallett (Hudson, Brooklyn), Dawn Miskulin (Haylee, Lacey), Kelly Watson - (Tom) Fuchs (Sydney, Brantlee), Matthew Jensen, Daniel (Katie) Richard (River, Sawyer, Capri, Lucy), Sharon (Ken), Kari Daniels (Issac) and Jeremy (Valerie) Maffei (Wyatt).  

Dean loved his family and he loved his country. Dean will be dearly missed by all who knew him, but his legacy will live on through his family and friends.

Viewing will be Thursday January 18, 2024 from 10am to 11am in the main chapel at Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, Camarillo. The celebration service will begin at 11am. Burial will immediately follow. Following the ceremony a reception will be held at Ric's Restaurant in Camarillo.