John Frederick Jensen

John F. Jensen Jr. passed away in Astoria on Oct. 15.

John was born on June 6, 1938, to Fred and Esther (Wicks) Jensen in Coquille. While his father served in World War II, his mother moved the family to Astoria to be closer to her parents, John and Marie Wicks, and extended family.

After the war ended, John’s family moved around Oregon with stays in Coquille, Bend and Albany, where he grew up with a love for the outdoors with his brothers. He was an Eagle Scout and summer camp counselor at Camp Pioneer. He spent many holidays of his youth in Astoria with his grandparents and extended family, which cemented his love for the coast.

John developed a strong work ethic at an early age, working a variety of jobs during his high school and college years, including working at his dad’s service station, on a fire suppression crew, at a paper plant and working with the game commission.

He graduated from West Albany High School in 1956, and was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, graduating from Oregon State College in 1960. Later, he earned his master’s degree in teaching from Western Oregon University.

John also served in the Oregon National Guard as a first lieutenant.

John married Merilyn Hromas in 1963, with whom he raised their son, Eric. John and Merilyn were a devoted couple, married for 57 years until Merilyn’s death in 2020.

John devoted his professional life to education, teaching at Central School, John Jacob Astor Elementary School and Astoria Middle School. He also was a guidance counselor, and later vice principal and principal, retiring from Astoria Middle School in 1993.

He is fondly remembered by many former students and teachers. He was a referee for several years in the school system, which John referred to as his workouts.

John had a great sense of humor and a love of people. He volunteered for many Astoria area organizations and at events over the years, including the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce, the food bank, the Astoria Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival, the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, the Great Columbia Crossing and as a cruise host. He also was very active in Peace First Lutheran Church.

He loved clam digging, fishing, golfing, the Oregon State Beavers and his family. John enjoyed taking out of town guests sturgeon or salmon fishing on his boat and showing them the area.

John always remained a teacher and mentor at heart. Some of his favorite sayings were, “plan your work, and work your plan,” and “choices, actions, consequences.” When he was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, he faced his illness with positivity and perseverance.

John is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Sue Jensen; grandchildren, Clairisa and Brett Jensen; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Chuck and Marlene Jensen and Eric Jensen and Brenda Breidinger. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of Clatsop Retirement Village, the Columbia Memorial Hospital — Oregon Health & Science University Knight Cancer Collaborative and Lower Columbia Hospice for their compassionate care.

A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. on Nov. 4 at Peace First Lutheran Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association Nordic Heritage Park at P.O. Box 34, Astoria, OR., 97103, Astoria High School Scholarships Inc. or Peace First Lutheran Church.