F. Paul Jensen

FLORENCE, Wis. – Frederick “Paul” Jensen, 77, passed away peacefully on October 20, 2017, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay, surrounded by his family. Paul was born on March 21, 1940, to the late K. Wayne Jensen and Irene (Rice) Jensen, of Niagara, Wisconsin.

He is survived by his patient and loving wife – “the best thing that ever happened to him” – of 51 years Arlene (Raboin), daughter Kristin Mead (Corey) of Salt Lake City, Utah, son Eric Jensen of Denver, Colorado, daughter Heidi Jensen (Jason) of Muncie, Indiana, grandchildren Forest, Linnea and Elijah, and his beloved dog, Max.
A true character of the Northwoods, Paul grew up in Niagara, Wisconsin. He was well known for his gregarious personality, his enjoyment in meeting and quizzing strangers, and his love for the woods and hunting. While growing up in Niagara, Paul spent his free time exploring and hunting in Saler’s Bluffs behind his house. As an adult, he became known as a local authority of this region’s natural history.

Paul’s outgoing personality led him to a successful career in banking and finance in the Green Bay area, where he lived for many years. Throughout his career, he was a strong advocate for small businesses and individuals seeking loans.
In his later years, Paul and his wife Arlene retired to Florence County. He was commonly seen sporting berets as colorful as his personality, and riding around in his beloved red Jeep, usually with a dog hanging out of the window. His dogs Frankie and Max were often referred to as his “Vice Presidents of Operations” and accompanied him everywhere he went.

In his youth, Paul was a bit of a rebel who rarely conformed to convention, and with his cohort Jim Raboin, founded the Niagara Beer Drinkers Association (NBDA) in the late 1950’s. The NBDA was a preparatory organization for future statesmen and philosophers, which may have fallen short of its mark. However, their antics provided much entertainment for tavern patrons in the Niagara area.

Paul was also the patriarch of Jensen’s Bear Track Lodge, a deer camp located near Lake Emily in Florence, attended by a close knit group of friends and fellow woodsmen, including his lifelong friend, Bernie Vickman and Bernie’s sons. The camp is known for its penchant for faking bar fights, spontaneous renditions of “Amazing Grace”, prodigious consumption of beer and spirits, and questionable hunting accomplishments.
Paul enjoyed life enormously. He had a huge heart and was the kind of person who moved turtles out of the road. He had a legendary sense of humor and loved to laugh at himself. Paul was a gifted storyteller. No matter how many times a particular story was repeated, it was still funny when he told it. He collected L.L. Bean hunting boots, berets, snowshoes, lanterns, and books. He enjoyed campfires and below-zero temperatures. He kept the family’s White Stag canvas tent in pristine condition for well over 40 years.
Paul loved studying world history and the Bible, which he read daily. His children grew up listening to Johnny Horton, bagpipes, the Grand Canyon Suite, musicals, and African American spirituals like “Follow the Drinking Gourd” – a song played so often that when they sing it, they remember exactly where the record skips. Paul treasured holidays and along with Arlene made them magical for their children. Always drawn to the water, Paul and Arlene lived near lakes and rivers, and when their house was landlocked, they learned to sail.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

The family would like to thank the doctors of Green Bay Oncology, Unity Hospice, and the wonderful staff of the 5th floor of St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay. We are so grateful for the compassionate and respectful manner in which you treated Paul.

A celebration of his life will take place at Keyes Peak Ski Lodge in Florence WI, on Saturday, November 11, 2017, at 1:00 p.m.