Major Gerald “Jerry” Keith Jensen, CD was born in 1943 in Regina, Saskatchewan, the son of Carol and Irma Jensen, and was a lifetime member of Rider Nation. In his youth, he took up the trumpet, and a highlight of his teens was an evening spent playing alongside the Count Basie Orchestra. His playing days ended in adulthood, but his love of jazz music continued.

He attended the Royal Military College (RMC) in Kingston, where he met his wife Angela, and graduated as part of the Class of 1965.  He served with pride in the Canadian Army (infantry) for over 35 years, first with the Regina Rifle Regiment, RMC, then The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, and ultimately the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Jerry’s service included two tours with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (1965 and 1970), instructor and Adjutant at the Combat Arms School at Camp Borden, the Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College (1975), Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, the Australian Army Staff College (1980), and West Germany (1985-1987). While posted to field battalions, he served as a platoon commander, company commander, and battalion Deputy Commanding Officer. The latter part of his career was spent at the Directorate of Land Operations Research (DLOR) in Ottawa.

Following his ‘retirement’ in 1997, he filled his time with many activities. Jerry found himself continuing to work with DLOR on a contract basis, and also part-time at a local hobby shop.  He volunteered at the Canadian War Museum in numerous capacities.  He was instrumental in running the Friends of the Canadian War Museum’s Used Book Room and served a term on the Friends’ board.  He worked as an interpreter in the museum’s LeBreton Gallery – the giant room full of tanks – where he enjoyed interacting with the public (and delighted in correcting gamers’ misconceptions) about the vehicles on display.   He was a member of the Ottawa Civil War Round Table for many years, continuing his interest in military history.

His award-winning model tanks travelled with him to many plastic modelling competitions across North America, and he shared this passion with his son and grandsons. He was a longtime devotee of Ottawa’s Hobby House, with regular Saturday morning visits. Jerry and Angela travelled frequently and enjoyed time with family.  “Gramps will fisk (fix) it!” was a common refrain whenever repairs were required in family households.

Jerry died in Ottawa on 8 April, 2026.