Gayler Jensen, 95
Published 9:35 am Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Gayler Jensen, 95
Gayler Kenneth Jensen, 95, passed away on February 2, 2025 at the Legacy of Brownsdale.
Gayler was born in 1929 in Thompson, Iowa to Otis and Mable (Olson) Jensen. In 1939 the Jensen family moved to Brownsdale, Minnesota, to a farm that stays in the family to this day. Gayler served in the Korean War effort in the early 1950s and aided various projects including participating in three atomic bomb tests in the Nevada desert. Returning home, Gayler met Audrey Stowe on a blind date in Owatonna and soon were married.
Gayler worked with the Chester Weisman construction company which traveled the Midwest building hotels. During that time, his daughter, Gwen, was born in Minot, North Dakota, and his son, Murray, was born in McAllen, Texas. The construction team returned to Austin and built several Austin landmarks including the Sterling Shopping Center. During the 1960s, Gayler teamed with Walter Smith and proceeded to build many houses in the Austin area. During the late 1960s, both Gayler and Walt joined the Joseph Construction Company where they worked for many years. After retirement, Gayler worked with Habitat for Humanity building houses.
Gayler’s first wife, Audrey, passed in 1998 and a few years later, he married Ethel Greibrok of London, Minnesota. Gayler and his spouses were strong Christians and participated in developing and leading several churches, including Beautiful Savior, St. Olaf, Our Saviors in Austin, and Our Saviors Lutheran in London, and worked several construction projects at the Mt. Carmel Bible Camp in Alexandria, Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Audrey and Ethel; his brothers, Mert, Orvie, and Roger; and grandchildren, Kyle and Jill Jorgenson.
Gayler is survived by his daughter, Gwen (Gregg) Jorgenson; his son, Murray (Miriam) Jensen; brothers, Wally and Harold (Mary); grandchildren, Kyrie Jorgenson, Carter (Kelley) and Linden (Charlie) Olinger; great grandchildren, Charlie, Jack, and Owen Jensen and Tommy Olinger; many nieces and nephews; and he will be missed by many friends.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, February 10th at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary with Pastor Reuben Unseth officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Monday morning. Interment will be in Six Mile Grove Cemetery.