05/27/2026
A tribute to one of Active Faith’s most devoted volunteers: Harold Dean Jensen. Born November 22, 1930. Passed on April 15, 2026. This beautiful testimony about Dean's life was written by his son, Barry. Those of us who remember Dean, remember his humble nature, kindness and strong work ethic. He volunteered as not only a hard working food pantry helper but also as the President on the Board of Directors for many years. Rest in Peace faithful servant.
Passage from son, Barry:
Few will have noticed, but at 4:45 p.m. yesterday. The world became a little darker.
Harold Dean Jensen passed quietly in the arms of his savior to be greeted with “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
Dad served the Lord without fanfare, without announcing his beliefs, but by quietly showing everyone what it means to “Love thy neighbor as thy self.” Dad loved everyone. Throughout his entire life he was dedicated to helping others. He was a quiet disciple. Not a boaster.
Perhaps Dad’s greatest accomplishment was to help start and later serve for many years as chairman of the board for the Active Faith Food bank in South Lyon Michigan. What started as a little idea for cooperative effort between local churches, grew to become a major charity that feeds hundreds of families in the area during their time of need. Dad always minimized his role in the founding and development of the charity, but the people involved appear to have thought his role was not minimal. We had to learn about his pivotal role from others. Dad was too humble to call himself a leader.
Dad delivered Meals on Wheels to senior citizens well into his late 80s. At the time he had to give it up, all of his “customers” were considerably younger than he was. Dad enjoyed stopping by to drop off food, having a chat with often lonely elderly persons and getting to know them. Even the complainers - he listened to their complaints, and offered an encouraging word. He may have found them frustrating, even annoying, but they never saw anything from him but love, usually in the form of jokes and stories.
Dad is still a legend at his local South Lyon Kiwanis community service club where he was an active community service member for decades. Few long time South Lyon residents have not bought a Christmas tree at the Kiwanis Christmas tree lot with a free smile, joke, or story from dad. When he had to move in with us, he participated in the Grosse Ile Kiwanis club as much as he could. Even though his mobility was somewhat limited by then he still helped in whatever way he could and then offered a smile, a story, a willing ear. He could barely walk but he still sat on a stool dressed as a ghoul in the Kiwanis haunted maze at the VFW.
Dad loved his Church (New Hudson United Methodist) and especially the people in it. He served in almost every role the church needed filled, and offered encouragement to others by his actions more than by words. Many people there told me they looked up to him. “There is a man who wears his faith on his sleeve.”
Dad helped everyone he could in personal ways as well. He never drove past a broken down car on the side of the road without stopping to offer help. When we went camping, he helped the campground owner build picnic tables, or helped clean up the campground, or helped families struggling to set up their tent for the first time. Wherever he went, if he found a person in need, he fond a way to help them. Helping others was his passion, his hobby and his happiness.
Dad also volunteered in the Lyon township government at times. He has no interest in politics at all, but he liked positions where he could help people at times. He served on the Tax board of review and on various ad hoc committees. Of course while doing so, he showed the government workers and politicians what it means to be a true servant of the people. He did so only by example. No harsh words, no bragging, no political maneuvering.
Through all of this volunteering and helping Dad raised 4 children and had a successful career as an experimental engineer at Detroit Diesel Allison division where he was a guiding light to co-workers simply by the way he lived. One former co-worker told me recently “Dean Jensen is the greatest human being that I have even encountered in my entire life.” I relayed that to dad and dad replied “He needs to get out more.” Dad taught his children, live by doing, not by talking about your accomplishments. (Still, one of them somehow ended up becoming a lawyer – ick. Dad was proud anyway he always emphasized whatever you do is not what matters, it is only important to do it whole heartedly and as best as you are able.)
Dad loved watching sports of all kinds. All sports, all levels. Even after the kids all moved away, Dad continued to attend nearly every South Lyon High School and South Lyon East basketball game. Dad also loved theater. He and Mom were initial members of the South Lyon Area Players community theater group and were involved in many ways in every production or performance until the group dissolved after decades of community performances. Dad also encouraged, directed, produced or performed in religious performances through the Church. He continued to attend the high school productions long after his kids were no longer involved in the performances.
Above all else, dad loved grandchildren. When they appeared on the scene, he visibly brightened. He attended every sporting event, performance, awards ceremony, birthday celebration that he could. He told everyone who would listen humorous grandchild stories. Anything that happened – dad could make it into an amusing story. Dad loved telling stories. Bump into him in the grocery store any you were going to get a funny story about a grandchild, or someone else that he knew.
Dad had such a positive impact on Cassandra who lived with him during college years, that when she married, she and her husband changed their last name to Dean to honor him and her disbands grandfather as well. (It seems that Deans are all pretty cool. Name your child Dean if you want them to be awesome.)
His grandchildren leaned more of his stories from his past than anyone. Stories of the great depression; stories about growing up on various farms with no electricity or sometimes, no indoor plumbing. Shooting pigeons in the barn or catching catfish from the creek so they would have something for dinner. Stories of talking with German POWs who were assigned to work on Illinois farms during world war II. Stories of his military service after the war. Stories of being the first of his family line to attend college and of starting a family in Detroit during the riots. Dad always had a smile, a joke and a story for anyone who would listen. Everyone seemed to love to listen.
His final days, the world offered him little other than to increase the tally of his number of days on earth. Constant pain, isolation due to hearing loss, inability to walk or leave his wheelchair, humiliation of having to rely on others to take care of every daily need and function – yet he rarely complained, never had harsh words for anyone, continued to try to brighten the days of others with a smile, a joke, a story, a playful quip. He was a favorite amongst the workers at his assisted care living center. On occasion, we found some of the workers hanging out with him in his room after their shift ended. Watching a game on TV together, trying to talk a bit, or just quietly keeping him company.
Dad loved people. Talking or not, he just loved to be around other people and people were drawn to him. Charm, good naturedness, faith, love – whatever it was if we could bottle up and share some Dean Jensenness, the world would be a better place.
Dad passed quietly. One minute getting a breathing treatment in his wheelchair while examining pictures of his recently born great granddaughter, Charlotte Dean, and drifting in and out of sleep. A second later, without a sound or movement, drifting away to greet old friends and probably telling stories and looking for someone in heaven that need his help.
We will have a memorial service for dad that the New Hudson United Methodist church on Grand River Avenue in New Hudson. We will announce the date when we figure things out. Dad would not want a bunch of flowers or balloons or fanfare. He was humble and quiet in his faith and in his service to others. In lieu of flowers, if you are so moved, please make a small donation in his name to the Active Faith Community Food bank in South Lyon, or to the church.
If Dad touched your life in any way, please honor the memory of him by taking a moment to help someone. Give them a smile, tell them a story, get them a meal, maybe even volunteer your time at a charity or community service organization.
If you have a story about dad that you would like to share, we would appreciate it. If you post it here, please let us know whether you are ok with our sharing this at his memorial.
