Robert W. Jensen
I New Bob,AKA,Hardrock, as a fellow Bass member and fisherman. He was so fired-up about fishing at or on a new body of water. I know he is fishing now.You have my sympathy.
Ed Mc Donough
Cedar Rapids
IA
Our sympathy to Marilyn and all the Jensen family on the loss of their husband, father and friend. He lived a wonderful life and made life wonderful for all his family and friends. I know you will miss him. We came to know Bob when his son, Gary, married our sister and having the Jensens as part of our family has truly been one of God’s many blessings. Roger & Mary Formanek
Roger & Mary Formanek
cedar rapids
IA
To the Jensen Family: we wish to express our heat-felt sympathy to all. We know how much Bob loved his boys and grandboys. Jim knew Bob from bass fishing, which was long before son, Gary, married our sister, Theresa Courtney. Please know that he is remembered fondly in our thoughts and prayers.
Jim & Helen Stobaugh
Lake Placid
FL
Sorry to hear of the loss of Bob. Not many of us get to live such a full life as Bob. Thinking of you fondly, Dorothy Hannon
Dorothy Hannon
Cedar Rapids
IA
To the Jensen family my sympathy for your familys your dad was a very neat man to know God bless you .Mike Matias
Mike Matias
marion
IA
My heart felt sympathy to the family. Bob was a most talented and gifted man. I loved to talk with him about his fishing and hunting experiences.May he rest in peace. Harlan Baskerville
Harlan Baskerville
bella vista, ar
IA
I asked, but never received an explanation on how “Hardrock” received his nickname. I figured it was either because of his rock hobby or because of his hard head, a trait inherited by both of his sons. He definitely was impervious to pain or discomfort. I remember replacing a roof at Bobby’s house and Old Hardrock was up there on the peak working harder then the rest of us younger guys. He hit his finger with a hammer so hard that when I looked at the damage I thought he would loose the finger; flesh was just dangling from it. I never yelled in pain, he just got off the roof, wrapped the finger in a rag and went right back to work like nothing happened. Weather was another thing. Hardrock and the boys took me duck hunting on the Mississippi on a cold November day. I froze by ass off while listening to Hardrock whistle, obviously having a great time. Of course they made me get out of the boat and on to some kind of mound in the water, where I got my foot stuck in the mud and fell into the water. Then I really was cold, but no sympathy from Hardrock who thought it hilarious. And then there was the cabin. I remember the excitement in the Jensen family. I spent a weekend helping put a new roof on and cleaning out all the bat crap that had collected inside the roof. We worked our butts off, but had to take an afternoon to go fishing. Gary got a big Northern which he cleaned and we all ate for dinner. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better tasting fish...maybe it was because I was just so hungry. I remember Gary making a big deal out of how fish was “brain food”. Maybe that’s why the Jensen’s are so smart, they grew up eating fish. Speaking of fish…check out the Jensen family album…while most families have photos of family gatherings, etc., the Jensen’s have a photo of ever fish that they have ever caught!
Mark Fischer
Cedar Rapids
IA
Fishing with the Jensen’s was another story. Get in a boat with the three Jensen boys and prepare yourself for an argument. Fishing on the Mississippi for walleye over a wing dam, there was an argument over something inconsequential. If one Jensen would say it’s a nice day, another would disagree and soon it would be two against one, where eventually I would be expected to take sides. I learned how to be diplomatic and try and defuse the argument. There were times that I thought someone would end up in the water, it became so heated. What I soon learned was that this was just a way that the Jensen’s communicated and five minutes later they were all best of friends. Riding patrol with Bobby meant a nightly stop at “Dunreath and E”, sometimes more then once. Ma would offer to get her shotgun and ride in the backseat of the patrol car, but Hardrock would always have some comment to back her off. Since my birthday was one day after Bob and Gary’s I would always be included, with my name on the bottom of the birthday cake. Made me feel like I was a real Jensen, something I was proud of. Hardrock offered to take me ice fishing, something that I had never done. He gave me a pair of rubber lace –up insulated boots that I still have today. I think of him and how he taught me to ice fish ever time I wear these. A week at Blacks Resort in Osakis with the Jensen’s was one of the best vacations that I remember. Hardrock taught me how to fish for walleyes on a lake, which was a big asset when Bobby and I would go to the Boundary Waters to fish. I feel terrible that I can’t be with the family during this time and to celebrate a life that was lead to the fullest, as I was always made to feel a part of the Jensen family. There will however, be a lot more fish for me to catch now that Hardrock has left us for that big pond in the sky. God bless him and rest of the Jensen family.
Mark Fischer
Cedar Rapids
IA
Though I never met Robert Sr. they say you can tell a lot about a man by his sons. By this standard, Robert was clearly an amazing man and his legacy will be carried on by all who knew him, his friends and most of all his family. Our deepest sympathy.