Obituary of Orville (Orv) Jensen

Orville (Orv) Jensen, age 82 of Venice, Florida, was called home to be with his Lord on March 18, 2023. 

Orv was born on March 30, 1940, to Jens and Ada Jensen on a farm in Sully County, South Dakota. After the death of his mother in 1953, he moved to Park Rapids, Minnesota, to live with his Uncle Ralph and Aunt Mildred Tidrick on their farm. As a youth, he accepted Christ as his Savior while attending the Assemblies of God church in Park Rapids.  

In 1957, Orv met the love of his life Kae at a church youth event, and they were married at the First Baptist Church in Park Rapids on August 2, 1959. They moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where Orv worked a short time at Northern States Power and then started a job with JC Penney. In 1965, they moved to St. Louis Park, Minnesota, less than a block from where Orv was employed. He worked for JC Penney until the age of 57, when he accepted an early retirement buyout. Orv and Kae raised their two sons, Graden and Michael, at their St. Louis Park home, which they lived in for over 40 years. They have many happy family memories spending summers camping in their 14-foot travel trailer (and eventually “upgrading” to a 16-foot) along with other family and church friends.  

Several years after retirement, Orv and Kae sold their St. Louis Park home and became “snow birds”, spending their winters at their condo in Venice, Florida, and summers in their park model at Cokato Lake RV Resort in Minnesota.  

Orv loved camping, fishing, hunting, flea markets, and making others laugh. His great grandchildren will always remember his alter ego, Cattail Willie! During the winter months, while keeping in touch with family up north via Zoom, Orv and Cattail Willie would make appearances, but never at the same time. The great grands were always trying to figure out why. Orv’s sense of humor brought joy to anyone who knew him, and he truly treasured the times he spent with his grandchildren when they were young, and then his great grandchildren. 

Church involvement and his love for Jesus is how many will remember Orv. He was actively involved in both Cross of Glory in Hopkins/Minnetonka, Minnesota, and The Bridge Church in Venice, Florida. One of The Bridge Church staff named Orv and Kae “intentional minglers”, as they would intentionally seek out people who were new at church and welcome them.  

During a Promise Keepers conference in 1995, Orv had a spiritual awakening which resulted in him growing and developing a deep and abiding relationship with the Lord. As a result, he started one of the first men’s accountability group at Cross of Glory and offshoots of this group are still meeting today. Orv’s heart to serve others was seen in his volunteer work in both Minnesota and Florida. This included: Christian Service Boys Brigade, Sunday school teacher, Bible study leader, trustee, deacon, small group leader with their churches and at Cokato Lake, local charities including Dinner at Your Door, and coaching flag football when his sons were young. Soon after retirement, Orv’s desire to share the love of Jesus took he and Kae on many mission trips over the course of 13 years, included traveling to Mexico, Haiti, and Peru, and several states in the United States. 

One of Orv’s greatest desires was to restore the Cokato Lake chapel services after over five years of inactivity. With approval from the resort board, he and Kae worked to fill each 15 Sunday services with speakers and music. God moved mightily, and during the summer of 2022, some services saw as many as 87 in attendance! With the summer of 2023 nearing, the schedule is filling quickly with speakers for every Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. What a joy this brought Orv to know that this ministry, which he was so very passionate about, would continue in 2023. He knew without the Lord, none of this would have happened.  

Orv was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and five sisters. Survived by wife, Kae of 63 ½ years; sons Graden (Valerie) Jensen, and Michael Jensen; grandchildren Kara (Ryan) Forcier, Erik (Amanda) Jensen, Justina (Rusty) Siedschlag, Anthony (Crystal) Nielsen, Joshua Nielsen, and Abigail (Aaron) Wright; 14 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and special friends. 

“We are immortal until our work on earth is done.” George Whitefield 

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matt. 25:23 

During the writing of this obituary, many have sent their thoughts and words about Orv. Here are some examples: “a role model…a treasure…a blessing…wonderful man who brought joy…a sweet man…a fun guy…godly inspiration to all who knew him”, and so many more. He will truly be missed, but, “Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His saints”, Psalm 116:15. 

Services will be held in Florida and Minnesota: 

The Bridge Church

Services held at Venice Presbyterian Church

Watch the livestream at: https://www.venicepres.org/streaming-service

825 The Rialto

Venice, FL 34285 

April 22, 2023 at 1:00PM

Cross of Glory Church

4600 Shady Oak Road

Hopkins, MN 55343 

May 13, 2023 at 3:00PM

The Chapel at Cokato Lake RV Resort

2945 County Road 4 Southwest

Cokato, MN 55321

June 11, 2023 at 9:30AM

Inurnment and graveside service held at Greenwood Cemetery

16223 State Highway 34

Park Rapids, MN 56470 

June 24, 2023 at 1:00PM