Obituary of Leif W. Jensen

Leif W. Jensen, of Wappingers Falls, passed away Saturday, January 31, 2015. Leif was born in Copenhagen Denmark on September 6th 1927. He immigrated to the United States with his parents Marie, Werner and older brother Ove. The Jensen family settled in Brooklyn, New York. Leif attended public schools and is a graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School. Leif was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1946. He went to work for the Rockwell Manufacturing Company completing his apprenticeship as a Tool and Model maker. Leif was a communicate member of the 9th Street Danish Church in Brooklyn serving as a Sunday School teacher and choir member. That's where Leif met the LOVE of his LIFE, Tenna. They were married on November 2, 1947. They were blessed with 5 children: Otto, Anna Marie, Kurt, Susan and Mark. Leif is survived by his kid sister Emely, 5 children, 12 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Leif was the past Noble Grand and District Grand Marshall of Kings 654 Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Jensen family moved to the Town of Wappinger in the early 1960's as Leif started to work for IBM. Leif retired in the 1990's as Staff Engineer in Mechanical Engineering. A lifelong Republican, he served on both the Town of Wappinger and Dutchess County Republican committees for over 44 years. He also served on the Town of Wappinger Republican Committee as Vice Chairman and Chairman. Leif served as Town of Wappinger Councilman for 8 years and Deputy Supervisor for 2 years. He was a member or the Zoning Advisory Regulation Committee for the Town of Wappinger. He was a member of the Wappinger Chamber of Commerce, a Trustee and Board Member for the Sloper/Willen volunteer ambulance service, and Trustee and Board member of Our Saviors Church in Fishkill, New York. Leif is a Life Member of the Twin Lakes Sportsman Association. Leif was an advocate for clean water and modern wastewater treatment. He was the Chairman of the Tri-Municipal Wastewater Commission for 16 years serving the Village of Wappinger Falls and part of the Town of Poughkeepsie. He received the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Dutchess County Planning Federation for his tireless work to make Tri-Municipal a reality. Family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 5 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 55 Wilbur Blvd., Poughkeepsie In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to The Fischer House Foundation (Fisher Houses provide military families housing close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury - 111 Rockville Pike, Suite 420, Rockville, Maryland 20850) or Shriners Hospital for Children (2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607). For directions or to send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.