Herbert Kent Jespersen

Herbert Kent Jespersen, known to most as Kent, died peacefully at home on Tuesday. He had a lovely Christmas celebration the day before with his family. Kent had fought a very long battle with cancer. A close friend remarked, “I’ve never known anyone who endured as much as he did in the drive to live.”

Kent was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in business administration and went on to have a decades-long career with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Sharleen and Kent were married in 1970 and thrived in 53 years of marriage. If you knew Kent, you knew how much he adored and respected his wife Sharleen as a friend and partner-in-life. His daughter Sarah was born in 1979 and Rachel in 1981. He was a proud father and took delight in the lives of his daughters. His career eventually took him to Rochester Hills, Michigan where he was living when he retired. In 2010 they moved to Orlando, Florida, and then to the Denver area earlier this year to be near family. Watching his grandson, Silas, grow up was the delight of his retirement years.

Throughout his life he enjoyed shooting sports and excelled at it, becoming a competitive marksman. He had a lot of close friends through this interest, including those at the Detroit Sportsmen’s Congress (MI), Volusia County Skeet and Trap Club (FL), and Chuluota Sportsmen’s Club (FL). He was a certified range officer and member of the American Trap Association. He helped a lot of people learn the sport, and most notably he enjoyed sharing these skills with his son-in-law Dale.

He was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church and enjoyed being a part of several congregations. In Florida, he was an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and took a special interest in helping at their food pantry.

Celebrating his life are his wife, Sharleen (Meyers) Jespersen, his daughter Rachel Jespersen, his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, Sarah (Jespersen) Lauzon, Dale Lauzon, and Silas Lauzon, brother and sister-in law, Kevin and Sandy Jespersen, his sisters and brothers-in law, Jean and Kim Austen, and Jill and Tom Jones, sister-in-law Sue Meyers, and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, if you are moved to make a memorial contribution please direct it to the Food Panty at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1515 South Semoran Boulevard, Orlando, Florida, 32807, (407) 277-3945.

He will be laid to rest at Wyuka Cemetery, 3600 O St, Lincoln, NE 68510. Tentative date is March 2, 2024, at 11:00am.