Otto Jensen passed away Feb. 3 2016 peacefully in his sleep with his family nearby, he was 86. Otto was born Aug 28 1929 on the family farm near Coulee City WA. He graduated from Hartline high school in 1947. He married his high school sweetheart, Betty Pierpoint, on April 8 1948. He moved his family from Coulee City to Moses Lake in 1954, where he worked as a mail carrier and as a volunteer fireman. He became a full time fire fighter and worked his way up to Fire Chief in 1963.
In 1970 he took the position of Fire Chief in Olympia, WA until 1977, he then became Fire Chief in Vancouver, WA. He retired from the City of Vancouver in 1986 to become the Executive Director of the WA State Association of Fire Chiefs in Olympia. During his Fire Career he was instrumental in starting Thurston County Medic 1, wrote Fire Codes for the IFC, and taught class at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. He retired from the Association in 1996 and moved back to Coulee City. He was active in the City Counsel and then became Mayor of Coulee City. He resigned from the Mayor position when his wife Betty became ill to take care of her. They eventually moved back to Olympia to be closer to their kids.
He enjoyed coaching little league baseball while living in Moses Lake; umpiring football, basketball and baseball; hunting with his sons, family and friends; and golfing.
Otto was preceded in death by his parents Otto & Mary Jensen; his brothers Ben, Evan and Herman; his sister Beulah and his wife Betty. He is survived by his children: Jenifer(Kirk) of Clarkston, WA; Jon(Karen), Jim, Janie of Olympia, WA; and Jerry(Debbie) of LaCenter, WA; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
There will be a gathering of family and friends at Otto’s home, 5509 17th Ave NE, Olympia on March 26th from 11 to 3. Otto’s ashes will be buried with Betty at the Highland Cemetery in Coulee City at a later date.
A guest book is available at FuneralAlternatives.org