Teresa Jensen, 66 of Emmetsburg passed away September 4, 2023 in Lake Park, Iowa. Funeral service was held Saturday, September 9 at 10:00 A.M. at Bethany Lutheran Church in Emmetsburg with the Rev. Pete Morlock officiating. Burial was held at Lake View Cemetery in Spirit Lake.
Teresa “Terry” Jensen was born on April 18th, 1957. She was the daughter of Dr. Paul and Marcia “Jo” Gannon of Armstrong, Iowa. Growing up, she had a great love of horses and would compete in equestrian shows and barrel racing events at county fairs all around the Midwest. Her best friend growing up was Sandy (Gram) Newell, who she remained friends with to the very end.
After graduating high school in 1975, she and her ex-husband, David Jensen, had two daughters - Jennifer “Jenny” and Elizabeth “Liz” and raised them in Ringsted, Iowa. After her girls graduated, she later moved to Emmetsburg, Iowa where she lived for over 20 years. Her love of anything Irish was well-known by her friends, family, and the community. Teresa obtained her bachelor of science degree in Criminal Justice from Buena Vista College. She later went on to work for Forest Ridge Youth Services, where she met her dear friends Dave and Judy Cole, who became more like family to her. Teresa worked at the Emmetsburg Public Library for almost 20 years, as well as the Riviera theater. She enjoyed playing the card game, “500”every Monday with other ladies from the community of Emmetsburg, as well as being involved in the local quilting club, coffee club, church Bible study & choir.
Another passion of Terry’s was traveling - she loved visiting her friends and family both near and far. One of her best qualities was being a loyal friend. Over the years, she remained friends with many people - some of her closest of which were Cindy & Roscoe Meyerderk, as well as their dog, Bear, who Teresa took on as her very own, and she loved him dearly. The greatest love Teresa had, however, was for her family - especially her six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She loved visiting them and watching all of their sporting events, music concerts and other activities.
Teresa is survived by her daughters Jenny (Curt) Ackerman of Harrisburg, SD and Liz (Ryan) Campney of Bennington, NE, her grandchildren - McKayla Frederick of Sheldon, IA, Isaiah (Sheniah) Frederick of Swea City, IA, Brock and Brody Ackerman of Harrisburg, SD, Lincoln and Sydney Campney of Bennington, NE, and her great-grandchildren - Paizley, Arrow and Olivia, her siblings - Carol Miele of Forney, TX, James Gannon of Shakopee, MN, John (Chiori) Gannon of Las Vegas, NV, Janet Wesselink of Wichita, KS, Julie (Mike) Gannon of Peoria, IL, Joy Gannon of Kahului, HI and Kristine (Sam) Bryan of Canby, OR, her many aunts & uncles and Gannon cousins. Teresa passed away peacefully on Monday, September 4th, 2023, surrounded by her family, at Aspire of Lake Park, Iowa where her granddaughter McKayla worked as an L.P.N.
She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents and her granddaughters Carrie Elizabeth and Ava Grace.
Arrangements by Martin-Mattice Funeral Home martinmatticefuneralhome.com
