James (Jim) Dorgan Jensen, 74, of Arnolds Park, Iowa, died November 14, 2024, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. A Celebration of Jim’s life is scheduled for Friday, December 13, from 4:00-6:00pm, at The Arnolds Park Museum. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
Jim was born February 2, 1950. He grew up at the family resort, Jensen’s Sunset Beach Cottages. Jim’s love for Okoboji began here while giving sailing lessons, regularly attending Roof Garden summer dances and competing to earn sailing trophies. Winters throughout his life were spent in Lauderdale By The Sea, Florida.
After graduating from Arnolds Park High School in 1968, Jim earned a BS in Business Administration-Marketing in 1972 and his MBA in 1974 in Marketing from the University of Iowa.
In the summer of 1971, Diana Boyt and her father rented a sailboat from Jim at Jensen’s Sailing Center on West Lake Okoboji. That meeting was the beginning of fun years of dating at the University of Iowa, followed by a wonderful 50-year marriage.
Jim owned Jensen’s Sailing Center. In 1979, Okoboji Boats purchased Jensen’s Sailing Center and Jim became sales manager for Okoboji Boats. In 1986, Jim and Diana purchased Okoboji Boats. In 2001, Jensen’s sold Okoboji Boats to Parks Marina.
Jim absolutely loved working at Okoboji Boats. His customers were his friends and his co-workers were family. He enjoyed seeing boaters making memories at the lake.
From 2001-2020, Jim captained the Queen II excursion boat. During that time, Jim joined son Michael selling real estate in 2009. After several years, Jim and Michael founded Jensen Real Estate in 2014. They enjoyed working together for 10 years.
Jim served on the Arnolds Park City Council for 46 years. Jim deeply enjoyed his city council service – he devoted his time and talent to the city of Arnolds Park. His love for the area can be seen in many municipal projects.
He was the Commodore of the Okoboji Yacht Club in 2003 and served as secretary of the Yacht Club for 40 years.
It was important to Jim to take care of those he loved. He cherished his family; he found great joy in his children and grandsons.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Diana; daughter, Kate, partner Tamasa Alexander and sons T.J. and Grant; son, Michael and wife Kira and sons James and Jack; brother, Larry Jensen; nephews, Lawrence and Steven and his wife Leah and their daughters Lena and Maxine and brother-in-law Duane Zahradnik and his daughter Amy. Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Bridget Olson, niece Caroline Baker; Jean Tool (Don), and niece Kelli Oswald; nephews, Ryan and Adam Tool; Sheila Nelson (Bob) and Lauren and Ross Nelson; and brother-in-law, John Boyt (Margaret), and Taylor and Devlin Boyt. Jim has also been blessed with grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, Lawrence and Annette Jensen; stepfather, Jack Neighbor; his sister, Marilyn Zahradnik; in-laws, Jim and Gloria Boyt; brother-in-law, Dan Olson; and aunt, Pearle Jensen Osher.
Memorials may be directed to the Arnolds Park Library Foundation, Box 556, Arnolds Park, IA 51331 or to the Jim Jensen Memorial Fund/City of Arnolds Park, Box 437, Arnolds Park, Iowa 51331.
