Former Lakeville Mayor, Dakota County Commissioner Robert Jensen Dies

Robert "Bob" Jensen was often called one of "founding fathers." He served on the Lakeville township board until the the township merged with the village of Lakeville in the late 1960s, creating the Lakeville most are familiar with today.

On Nov. 27, Jensen died after a battle with colon cancer. He was 83 years old.

Jensen, was more than just a civic leader. According to a story in the Pioneer Press, his political career began may have began in Lakeville township, but after stints as a City Council member and mayor for Lakeville, he also went on to serve as a Dakota County commissioner and a state legislator.

He was also a rarity, according to friends. He was a Democrat. But that didn't stop most people in the community from voting for him.

"He was concerned about the needs of the community rather than his own ambition or some party, unlike most of our politicians these days," Ed Mako, one of Jensen's friends, and a former Lakeville mayor, and council member himself, told the Pioneer Press. "He had a good idea of what would come in the future and was good at preparing our city for that."

Sarah Matasosky, one of Jensen's 10 children that he raised with his wife of 63 years, Bernice, told the Pioneer Press "her father was proud of his ability to bring people together and forge compromise."

After serving as a City Council member and mayor in Lakeville, Jensen was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1975. The DFLer served two consecutive terms until 1979 and was then elected twice more to single terms in 1983 and 1987. Jensen then served two years as a Dakota County commissioner, from 1992 to 1994.

"He said he was glad he was in politics back then because there was more collaboration, and he felt like there was more that could get done," Matasosky told the Pioneer Press.

Jensen is survived by his wife, Bernice, their 10 children, 19 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be 11 a.m. Monday at Church of St. Joseph in Rosemount. Visitation is from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at White Funeral Home in Lakeville and an hour before the Mass.