Nov 21, 2014

Per Jensen, former seed company executive, dies

Per Jacob Jensen, 85, died Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014, at St. John’s home in Mendon, New York following a brief illness.

He is preceded in death by his wife Karen. He is survived by three children, Kirsten Down (Allan), Al Jensen (Adair), John Jensen (Aimee); sisters Birtie, Grete, Hannah and brother, Bent, all in Denmark. He will be missed by his five grandchildren, Brita and husband, Doug; Jake and wife, Carrie; Emily, Laura and Peter and great grandson, Jacob.

Born and raised in Denmark, the son of Jakob and Emma Jensen, he was a long-time resident of Rochester, New York and Carmel, California.

In his early years, he developed his love for plants working for a small greenhouse and Ostergaards Seed Company in Stensballe, Denmark. He immigrated to Canada in 1957 where he spent several years with Asgrow seed in Bradford, Ontario. In 1968 he went to work for The Harris Seed Company in Rochester, progressing from sales representative to management and retiring as CEO in 1988.

In retirement he was very involved many organizations but mostly REBILD, an organization started during World War II to strengthen and celebrate the relationship between Denmark and the United States. Mr. Jensen was also a proud member of the Danish Lodge of Salinas, California.

He was honored for his contributions to REBILD at the annual meeting and celebration on July 4, 2010.

He spent his retirement years traveling the world with his wife, golfing and enjoying his days in the greenhouse and gardens at his home in Carmel California and visiting with his children and grandchildren.

Per was a mentor whose charismatic and infectious spirit will continue to inspire his family and those that got to know him.

Contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Rochester and Finger Lakes Region, 435 E. Henrietta Road, Rochester, New York, 14620, and Rebild National Park Society, 1582 Glen Lake Road, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, 60169.

Arrangements were handled by Merton H. Kays Funeral Home, 59 Monroe St., Honeoye Falls, New York.