William Morris Jensen

Service Details

Funeral services celebrating Bill’s life will be held at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 12:30 pm with Pastor Jennifer White officiating. Interment, with military honors, will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park. A luncheon reception will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Wednesday from 10:30 – 12:30 pm.

Memorial Suggestions

Memorials to “VARC” (formerly known as Careers Industries) have been suggested.

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Racine – William Morris Jensen, age 89, passed away peacefully Tuesday afternoon, May 6, 2025 at Ascension All Saints Hospital surrounded by his family.

A lifetime resident, William was born in Racine on January 25, 1936 to the late James “George” Jensen and Mabel (nee: Sannes) Jensen. He was a 1954 graduate of Washington Park High School. Bill proudly served his country participating in active duty with the US Army from 1955-57 and an additional four years with the Army Reserves until 1961.

On April 30, 1966 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bill was united in marriage for 50 years to the love of his life, Mary Ann (nee: Shimkus) until she passed away on August 16, 2016.  Bill was employed by Western Publishing for over 40 years. He was fortunate enough to have enjoyed 30 years of retirement.

Bill grew up in the Lutheran faith at Gethsemane Church in West Racine. Bill & Mary Ann proudly volunteered as Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus at the RCOC children’s Christmas parties for several years. They always looked forward to traveling together, whether it was on an Alaskan cruise, San Francisco or their many trips to Las Vegas. Being grandparents was a blessing and they truly loved spending time with their adored granddaughters, Sydney & Stephanie Johnson.

Bill also enjoyed the simple pleasures in life including mowing his lawn, family reunions, fishing with his brother, watching Bare Knuckle Boxing, the Cubs and Packers and going out for burgers with his family.  He loved to share stories about his adventures growing up with five brothers.  He was a storyteller, a man of God, was kind to everyone he met and always put his family first.  Bill cherished being able to live with and be cared for by his family for the past year and a half.

Surviving are Bill’s daughter, Denise A. Jensen; son, David W. Jensen; granddaughters, Sydney & Stephanie Johnson; nieces & nephews:  Godson Jeff Jensen (Christine), Karen Pedersen (Joaquin), Lisa Gerhart, Tina & Sara Jensen, Kyle Jensen, Eric Jensen (Lori); Joleen & Janice Jensen and Sheila Jensen (Hans); other relatives & many friends. In addition to his parents and wife, Bill was preceded in death by all of his siblings, Leonard (Mary) Jensen, Alice (Donald “Kenny”) Pedersen; George (Donna), Harvey (Joyce), Howard (Margery) and Robert (Virginia) Jensen; and by Mary Ann’s parents, Joseph and Stella (nee: Bilik) Shimkus.

The truest measure of a man is how tall he stands in the eyes of his family.

Funeral services celebrating Bill’s life will be held at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 12:30 pm with Pastor Jennifer White officiating. Interment, with military honors, will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park. A luncheon reception will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Wednesday from 10:30 – 12:30 pm. Memorials to “VARC” (formerly known as Careers Industries) have been suggested.

A special note of thanks to Bill’s daily home caregiver Daniele Aceto and the wonderful staff of Ascension All Saints Hospital; especially to nurses Brittny, Emily & Jackie for their compassionate care and support given in our time of need.