Tammy Jane Jensen

Tammy Jensen, 59, of Winterset (formerly of West Des Moines), passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at her home after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She never allowed her diagnosis to dim her spirit or dampen her outlook on life.

Tammy was born on August 1, 1964 in Durant, Oklahoma to Loyd and Pamela (Cranford) Manners.  She grew up in Calera, Oklahoma and graduated from Calera High School in 1982.  On January 30, 1988, Tammy married Craig Jensen in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  While working full time, Tammy earned her accounting degree from Morningside College with honors in the spring of 1993.  Craig and Tammy enjoyed an active life with their two children, Haley and Cole.  Tammy worked for Wells Fargo prior to working for MidAmerican Energy for the last 32 years.

Tammy had a passion for quilting, finding joy in the intricacies of stitching together memories and stories. She poured her heart into her creations, crafting beautiful quilts for her children, family, and friends for occasions such as graduations and babies.  Each stitch was a testament to the love and pride she held for her family.  Her imagination led her to many other crafted gifts and works of art.  Tammy also enjoyed attending concerts, some of her favorites being Chris Stapleton and Reba McEntire.

In her professional life, Tammy found enjoyment among her colleagues, who quickly became an extension of her family.  She thrived in an environment where teamwork, dedication, and mutual respect were important, creating deep and lasting connections with those around her.

Despite the challenges she faced, Tammy approached each day with a radiant smile, a southern sass and an unwavering determination to live life to the fullest.  She often mentioned her “sisters” that she was born with, married into, and came to know along the way.  Her resilience and optimism touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her.  She was incredibly thankful for the support system that developed while going through her cancer journey.

Tammy is survived by her husband, Craig; children, Haley (Nick) Fortmeyer of Minneapolis, MN, and Cole (Holly) Jensen of Newton, IA; her mother, Pam Manners; siblings, Brad (Amy) Manners, and Julie (Jimmy) Smith; and one grandchild due in May.  She was preceded in death by her father, Loyd Manners.

A visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Urbandale .  Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 18, 2024 at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, followed by a luncheon.  A livestream of the funeral service can be found at https://wdm.lutheranchurchofhope.org/specialevents/.  Burial will follow in the Booneville Cemetery.  Memorial Contributions may be directed to Gary’s Ride Iowa; a brain cancer non-profit organization. (https://www.garysrideiowa.org).  Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.