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Vera Gail Jensen

Vera Gail Jensen, 81, passed away unexpectedly on Monday July 14, 2025, at her home in Steamboat Springs, Colo. She was born August 7, 1943, at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, to the late Robert and Jeanette Hunt.

Gail was raised in Blair, Nebraska; she graduated as valedictorian from Blair High School in 1961. She went on to the Universities of Nebraska at Lincoln and Omaha. In Lincoln, she was a member of the Madrigal Singers and the Chi Omega sorority.

After completing her degree in microbiology she worked at the Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, starting and running the hospital microbiology laboratory. Subsequent to her work in the hospital, she and her daughter Abby ran JSN Equine Enterprises, breeding, training and showing horses across the country.

She had a strong altruistic orientation, serving on multiple non-profit boards over the course of her life. She served on the Board of Directors of Steamboat Adaptive Recreational Sports for over a decade, helping to oversee the funding and construction of the Stars Ranch. She served on many other boards, including the Arabian Horse Association where she helped to found the Youth National Championships — now in their 32nd year. Gail was an owner and board member of Great Plains Communications for many decades, where she held firmly to her guiding principle: equitability across client, employee and ownership groups.

‍Gail loved being with her family, with her animals, and singing soprano in the United Methodist Church choirs in both Blair and Steamboat Springs. She was known by all of her family and friends as a delightful hostess, often bringing substantial groups of family and friends together in her home; she also enjoyed having friends and family stay with her for extended periods. She was a member of the Yampa Valley Singers and performed with them at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Jeanette Hunt.

She is survived by her daughter, Abigail Jensen; son, Troy Jensen and wife Sasha Jensen; sister, Robley Garrigan and husband Timothy Garrigan; grandchildren, Misha Jensen and Kai Jensen; nephews, Riley Garrigan, Casey Garrigan and wife Valerie Garrigan; grand-nephews, Liam Garrigan, Aiden Garrigan, and Declan Garrigan; and former husband Michael Jensen. ‍

Gail’s celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, at the Window Ranch in Steamboat Springs, Colo. There will also be a service in Blair, Nebraska, in the coming months; however, a date has not been set for this service.

Memorials can be sent to any of the charities that Gail supported:

Stars, https://www.steamboatstars.com/
Jeanette Hunt Animal Shelter: https://www.blairanimalshelter.org/
Colorado Crane Conservation Coalition: https://coloradocranes.org/
Heart of Steamboat United Methodist Church: https://www.heartofsteamboat.com/give

#2 Funeral leaflet

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In Loving Memory Vera Gail Jensen
7th August, 1943 ~ 14th July, 2025

Vera Gail Jensen
Celebration of Life
Welcome
Opening Prayer
Reading of Psalm 23
Sharing about Gail (Speakers)
Scripture Reading (1 Corinthians)
Reflection (Tim)
Litany of Remembrance
Benediction

Litany of Remembrance:

In the rising of the sun, and in its going down;

In the blowing of the wind, and in the chill of winter;

We will remember her

In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring;

In the blueness of the sky, and in the warmth of summer;

We will remember her

In the rustling of the leaves, and in the beauty of autumn;

In the beginning of the year, and when it ends;

We will remember her

When we are weary and in need of strength;

When we are lost and sick at heart;

When we have joys we yearn to share;

We will remember her

So long as we live, he to, shall live, for he is a part of us,

as we remember her

1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.

Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.

It bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

~~~from obituary courtesy of the Washington County, Nebraska Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave # 285340722