Allen Wendell Jensen

Funeral Recording - https://audio.funeralrecording.com/embed/220c2ba8-7cdc-11ee-b9ba-0a0a8901036b

After a life defined by love and service, Allen Jensen peacefully passed away in Toole, Utah at Our House Assisted living. He was 83 and struggled for 8 years with Alzheimer's disease.

Born in Ogden, Utah but raised in Salt Lake City,  Allen graduated from East High School in 1958 and went on to basic training serving in the Utah National Guard for four years.

Allen was a life-long missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  From carrying his best friends’ saxophone so he would attend mid-week primary with him, to asking every nurse at his memory-care center if she was a member of the Church, he shared his love for his Savior and faith in the gospel until the very end!  Officially, he served a full-time mission to the Eastern Canadian mission from 1960-1962. 

Allen began working for Fernwoods Candies at age 14, he cleaned floors, scooped ice cream, and eventually apprenticed and became a candy maker.  He revolutionized and streamlined the manufacturing of the mint sandwich candy.

Later in a partnership he purchased a candy company called Valora’s in sugar house Utah.  Here he met Venice his life time love and partner, who was his employee and future wife.  They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 11, 1967.

They were married and jumped into a spontaneous adventure to start up a candy factory in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.  They lived there for 15 years, purchased and consolidated a handful of candy companies into Olivier’s Candies.  While living there they had 6 children and served in many capacities in their ward.

Following the Spirit and wanting to be closer to family, Allen and Venice returned to the Salt Lake City area in 1983. Allen and James (his brother) purchased a bankrupt company called Swings and Things turning it into a thriving business (Component Playgrounds). With years of partnership, Allen and James worked at providing for their families. James and Allen’s partnership over the years provide balance in their skills, allowing both of their talents to thrive.

Allen’s patriarchal blessing spoke of the service he would perform for the youth. This was fulfilled in his family and years of church service with Young Men and Young Women. He served as a Bishop in Calgary, Canada and Brighton 8^th ward in Utah. Allen served 35 years in scouting. He never earned the rank of “Eagle” as a youth, but served hundreds of young men and helped propel them to success in their lives. For his service in scouting he was nominated and awarded the Silver Beaver.

Allen loved his family life. He and Venice have poured their hearts, testimony of Christ and talents into their Children’s lives. He taught his children the value of work by employing each of us as children in all of his businesses. Allen taught his children through church service, talents and interests. Ever growing in his love of music, love of fishing and hunting and wood projects he shared these liberally with his children.

His Life-long love of music, the harmonica, guitar, singing, and ukulele provided the gift of song to many friends and family including his very last years.

Allen is survived by wife Venice, Children Amy (Brett) Johnson, Mark (Kerry) Jensen, Jennifer (Steven) Stay, Pamela (Stanley Thompson-Deceased) (Gary), Nancy (Wayne) Thomas, Ann (Andy) Walker, twenty-two grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at the West Jordan 6^th Ward church building, 7265 S. 2700 W., West Jordan, Utah. A viewing will be held at the same location Friday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 12:00-12:45 p.m. Burial will be in the Memorial Estates Cemetery at 6500 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah.

A full obituary will be published online through Cannon Mortuary at https://www.cannonmortuary.com/obituaries/allen-jensen