Richard "Rick" Duane Jensen

Richard Duane “Rick” Jensen, 66, died on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 in his home at Woodcliff Lake in Fremont, NE. He passed peacefully in his sleep after many years of being the best husband and caretaker to his wife, Helen, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.  

   Visitation with the family present will be Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 1:00pm at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Ponca, NE.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:00pm with Father Andrew Sohm officiating. A celebration of Rick’s life will follow at Rivertime Resort, Ponca, NE.  Mohr Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  Memorial Gifts and flowers are to be sent to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ponca, NE.

   Rick Jensen was born on May 22, 1953 to Dorothy and Sherman Jensen.  He graduated from Ponca High School in 1971 and then went on to earn his Associates Degree from Norfolk Community College.  On September 20, 1975 he married his high school sweetheart, Helen Richards and they were blessed with four children, Amy, Lori, Ryan and Andy.  

   Rick had a long career for the Nebraska Department of Roads and went on to be the Ground and maintenance supervisor for the Dakota County Courthouse.  After years of being a caretaker to his wife, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he retired, and moved to Fremont to be closer to Helen, who was placed in long-term care.  

   A “jack-of-all-trades” Rick was always making the world even more beautiful with his paintings, homes he built and renovated, fixing vehicles, and helping his friends and neighbors in any way that he could.  

   One of Rick’s greatest strengths was his ability to make everyone laugh and smile.  He never met a person that didn’t become his friend. Every child that met him went on to address him as “Papa or Grandpa Rick!” 

   Above all things, Rick had a love for his family and a relationship with God.  There is no doubt to those who knew Rick that heaven is now even more beautiful and fun with him in it.  

   Survivors include his loving wife of 44 years, Helen and their four children, Amy (Cory) Wieseler, Elkhorn, NE, Lori (Michael) Huffman, Papillion, NE, Ryan (Shena) Jensen, Papillion, NE and Andrew Jensen of Omaha, NE.  He was also a proud “Papa” to five grandchildren, Whitney, Bo and Brilee Wieseler, Evelyn and Jackston Huffman.  

   Survivors also include his brother, David and Jackie Jensen of Las Vegas, Nevada, his mother-in-law, Monica Richards; brothers-in-law, Mark and Vicki Richards of Exira Iowa, Gary and Kari Richards, Thornton, Colorado; sister’s-in-law, Marcella and Rick Schweers of Ponca, NE, Susan and Blake Bostwick of Ponca, NE, and Gayle Richards, Sioux City, IA. Rick was also a proud uncle to all of his nieces and nephews.  

   Ready to meet him in heaven were his parents, Sherman and Dorothy Jensen, his sister, Kathleen and husband Ron Bookwalter, his father-in-law, Thomas Richards and his brother-in-law, Jim Richards.