Victor Viggo Jensen

It is with heavy hearts we mark the passing of a great man, a beloved husband, father and grandfather. Victor Viggo Jensen, fondly known as Vic, passed away peacefully in Calgary, Alberta on May 6th, 2024 at the age of 91, with his loving family at his side. Vic leaves behind a legacy defined by his unwavering love for his family and his profound impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Vic's devotion to his family was unparalleled. They were truly his pride and joy. Vic was a very proud, resilient, fun loving and intelligent man, and the son of Danish immigrants who moved to a farm on a humble prairie homestead just outside of Mossbank, Saskatchewan. He grew up during the dustbowl era of the Great Depression where he learned the hard lessons of life, making do with very little. He developed a keen understanding and appreciation for hard work, conservation, the value of a dollar, and a love of animals and the great outdoors. Vic spent his early adulthood in Saskatchewan working on the oil rigs when he met his loving wife of 69 years, Florence (Merle) Kirkpatrick. Together they raised three boys in Moose Jaw and instilled in them the same values of hard work, pride, resiliency and having fun. The family spent many summers exploring Western Canada in a Tee Pee travel trailer. Vic worked for 45 years at the Moose Jaw oil refinery as a  steam engineer. He loved camping, nature, wildlife, hunting and exploring the great world around him. After retirement, he and his wife moved to Calgary, Alberta, where he enjoyed many years with his family, riding his bike and furthering the cause of conservation. He spent countless hours tending the yard and garden, volunteering for community organizations, and meeting with friends for coffee and conversation.Vic and Merle traveled often to Hawaii and Mexico and loved mingling with the locals. For his 80th birthday, his sons took him to Denmark for the first time, where he traveled the country and experienced the incredible thrill of learning about his roots, thanks to the love and generosity of his newfound extended family Trina, Hans and Kent Schmidt. Until the end of his life, Vic showed us all how to approach life with positivity, dignity, perseverance, and humour. He was full of wisdom and wit and never missed an opportunity to pass it on to others. Vic is predeceased by his father Martin, his mother Anna and his five siblings, Svend, Bobby, Joyce, Hans, and Connie. He is survived by his sons Robert (Bob) Jensen and his wife Elaine Joughin; Eric Jensen and his spouse Rob Halfyard; Victor Jensen Jr. and his wife Annette (Cossette); and his grandchildren Laurel, Kevin, Thomas, Michael, and David. It was Vic's wish not to have a formal service, instead encouraging all to cherish the preciousness of life and celebrate the legacy he leaves behind. We wish to extend incredible thanks to the Foothills Country Hospice in Okotoks for giving our dad the most incredible send off. The staff and volunteers are truly angels on earth, and we are forever grateful for their kindness, attention and sincerity. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Vic's honour would be greatly appreciated to Foothills Country Hospice in Okotoks, Alberta; the World Wildlife Fund; the Nature Conservancy of Canada; or the Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary. Thanks Dad, for making our life so wonderful!!!!