James Jenson

Passed away on July 7, 2018. Preceded in death by wife of 56 years, Ruth Jenson (Stillwater); parents, Rev. Knute and Emma Jenson (Clifton, TX); siblings, Sherman Jenson, Maurice "Maury" Jenson, Carroll "Hap" Jenson, Paul Jenson, and Lois Jenson. Survived by, loving children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. James was born in Texas where his father, a Lutheran Minister, was an army chaplain at Fort Sam Houston during WWI. He graduated from Appleton High School in Appleton, MN and afterwards attended Luther College in Decorah, IA, and then graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School with a bachelor and doctorate in medicine. He then married his wife, Ruth in 1943. He was a veteran of WWII and served as an Army Captain at Valley Forge General Hospital in Pennsylvania, doing plastic and reconstructive surgery on injured war vets returning from action overseas. Following discharge from the Army in 1946, he practiced medicine in Eau Claire, Wisconsin for one year. In 1947, he moved his family to Stillwater, MN and formed the Stillwater Clinic medical practice with the late Dr. John Stuhr. The practice continued to grow until Dr. Jenson's retirement from medicine in 1990. The Stillwater Clinic later merged with another practice to form the Stillwater Medical Group. After a few months of practice in Stillwater in 1948, Dr. Jenson was offered a fellowship for further study in the specialty of plastic surgery at Minneapolis General Hospital. However, he made the decision to stay with family practice as his life-long career. He found family practice to be more of a challenge and he enjoyed the opportunities it provided for more personal connections to families in the community. In the old tradition of medicine, he made house calls throughout much of his career, particularly in the early days when he was one of only a few physicians in the Stillwater area. He established lasting relationships with several generations of families in the St. Croix Valley over 40 years in practice. Jim and Ruth joined Trinity Lutheran Church in 1947 where Jim remained a faithful member for 71 years. Dr. Jenson spearheaded efforts to get the new Lakeview Memorial Hospital in Stillwater, built in 1961. It was an innovative concept for its time, designed in a cloverleaf pattern, which contributed to a more progressive delivery of patient care. Dr. Jenson was recognized by the Minnesota Medical Association in 1994 for 50 years of membership and service. In 1968, he traveled to Russia and other Iron Curtain countries as a Minnesota People-to-People goodwill medical ambassador, just days prior to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. He served as, The President of Minnesota Medical Alumni Association, a Member of the board of directors of MN Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a Member of the board of directors of Cosmopolitan State Bank, Stillwater, MN and a Deacon at Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater, MN. He was a member of The Minnesota Medical Association, The American Medical Association, The American Academy of Family Practice and The Lions Club. Funeral Service, 11AM, Thursday, July 12th at TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 115 4th St N, Stillwater. Visitation, Wednesday, July 11th from 5PM - 8PM at BRADSHAW, 2800 Curve Crest Blvd, Stillwater, and one hour prior to the Service at Church. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church Library (Stillwater MN) or donor's choice.