William Craig Jensen

William Craig Jensen passed away peacefully in West Valley City, Utah, on January 10, 2024. Craig, as he was known, was born the 14th of August 1948 in Emmett, Idaho. Growing up on a dairy farm as one of 9 children was a source of a work ethic, patriotism, and love of God and family that would be a foundational part of the rest of his life. As a young man his family moved to Granger, Utah, where Craig would spend the rest of his life with a few exceptions. After graduating from Granger High School, he served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the West Spanish American mission, serving in cities in California and Arizona in the turbulent 60s. After a mission he attended BYU, earning a degree in Speech and Dramatic Arts Education before earning a master’s degree in Communications. While there he met the blonde-haired girl of his dreams, Roberta Bowman, and they were married January 31, 1975, in the Salt Lake Temple. After graduation he and Roberta packed up a small car and lived in Dodge City, Kansas, for 3 years before moving back to Utah.

In 1980 Craig started a small business, Modern Precast, and dedicated the next 40 years to the business of precast concrete fencing and products for landscaping, homes, and many custom projects around the country. He was proud to do work for the San Diego Temple and for many other buildings throughout the Wasatch Front such as the Delta Center. As a businessman, he was the emblem of honesty and integrity and saw his purpose as providing opportunities for others to provide for their families, especially for those who had a hard time getting employment elsewhere. Of his career in precast concrete he often remarked that he was “backwards, all mixed up and set in my ways.”

He was most proud of his 10 children and his 49 grandchildren (with number 50 on the way), whom he bragged about whenever he had a chance. His optimism to face any problem with faith, love of the scriptures, friendliness to all, sense of humor, deep commitment, willingness to follow the Spirit, humility, and selflessness are an example to all that knew him. He figuratively and literally would give all that he had to those in need.

He served faithfully in many callings in the church. Holding a special place in his heart were his 8 years of service as the branch president of the El Camino Spanish branch in West Valley City, and his years of service in the Jordan River Temple. He was a constant missionary, encouraging anyone and everyone to come to Christ and come back if they had strayed from the path. He was instrumental in bringing many people to the gospel throughout his life, no matter his circumstances.

His flair for the dramatic made him the inveterate teller of stories, the master and lover of corny jokes and puns, and the inventor of 101 ways to tell the kids to go to bed. He loved connecting with people, political debates, geography, deep thinking, wide-brimmed hats, black licorice, church history, sharing his testimony of Christ, liver and onions, and tracking the progress of temple building throughout the world.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Andrus Jensen and Pauline Bangerter and a granddaughter. He is survived by his wife of nearly 49 years, Roberta Jensen, his children and their spouses, Willis (Jenilyn), Jeniann (Jay), Joseph (Becky), Sidsie (Derek), Taylor (Shelly), Maria (Teppo), Hyrum (Julia), Lee (Sarah), Miya (Jake), Erik (Becca), and his grandchildren who all were named George and knew him affectionately as “Grandpa George.” He is also survived by his 8 siblings and their spouses and numerous extended family which included more than 100 cousins.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, January 18th at the Valley View Funeral Home at 4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City from 6 to 8 pm. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 19th at 1 pm at the Granger Ward Building at 2850 West 3835 South in West Valley City with a viewing from 12-12:45 pm. Interment to follow at the Valley View Memorial Park.