Margaret E. Jensen

Margaret E. Jensen of Cozad passed away October 18, 2018 at the Cozad Community Hospital at the age of 84. Margaret was born October 3, 1934 in Stapleton, Nebraska to Meredith August and Louise Hazel (Lehmkuhler) Lilly. She grew up on the family farm north of Arnold, Nebraska and graduated from Arnold High School with the class of 1952. Margaret attended Kearney State College for a couple of summers. She obtained a teaching degree and taught school at Sunnyhill north of Cozad, Eureka Valley east of Arnold, and Echo school south of North Platte. She liked all the schools, liked them all very much. She was baptized at the Arnold Baptist Church in 1949. She married Eldon Merrill Jensen at the Arnold Baptist Church on December 23, 1956. They were married for 42 years until Bud's death on January 16, 1998. To this union were born four children, Robert, Rebecca, Rhonda and Roxanne. Bud and Margaret moved to North Platte in 1959, worked at Tomahawk, Cedar Bowl and was known for her time at Tucker's as "Johnny". Many times her children would visit her and she would serve them Shirley Temples. Traveling Highway 30, customers would come from all across the country to see "Johnny" and have her serve as their waitress. The family moved back to Arnold in 1969 and for the next several years Margaret worked at the Arnold Café and Model Café, where she was widely loved for her friendly personality and caring nature. Bob and Becky also became Arnold High School graduates with Rhonda and Roxanne graduating from Cozad High School. Bud, Margaret, Rhonda and Rox moved to Cozad in July 1977 at which time Margaret began her career at Monroe Automotive Parts, a job she loved and held for over two decades. She was one of the most well-known figures at the plant, "Mom or "Grandma" to many other co-workers. She later transferred her church membership to Parkview Methodist Church in Cozad where she became an active member of the church, many Sundays sharing the pew with her husband, children and grandchildren. She was a good and faithful member, becoming part of the choir and teaching Sunday School as well as being active church ladies' activities. Margaret loved to cook and can, especially her world famous cinnamon pickles, and also loved sharing her work with members of the family, church and community at large. She was a member of the Cozad Does Drove #177, Rebekahs, loved the Huskers, NASCAR and her bingo. She loved bowling, twice traveling to national competition in Niagara Falls and Las Vegas, and also loved traveling to casinos, especially Rosebud in South Dakota. She was a cancer survivor, colon cancer in 1980, and loved being a mom and grandma to her children and grandchildren. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother, Richard Lilly. Survivors include her son, Bob (Penni) Jensen of Central City, 3 daughters, Becky (Larry) Mora of North Platte, Rhonda Jensen of Cozad and Roxanne (Domingo) Reyes of Cozad; grandchildren, Matthew and Jessie Jensen, Abbi Jensen, Sara Jensen, Kaylea (Alec Foster) Reyes and Emily Reyes; 6 step granchildren, Lawrence Mora, Deserae Mora-Jones, Danielle Laursen, Chelsie Ford, Caleb Mora and Olivia Mora; 6 step great grandchildren; 2 sister-in-laws, Helen Lilly of North Platte and Senga Jensen of Columbus; nieces, nephews and close family friends. Memorials are suggested to Paw Prints in Dawson County, PO Box 21, Cozad, NE 69130. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Services will be held Monday, October 22, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. at the Cozad United Methodist Church with Pastor Doug Gahn officiating. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, NE. Visitation will be Sunday from 5 pm to 8 pm with family receiving friends from 6 pm to 8 pm at Berryman Funeral Home.