I chose the website name, “A Father’s Love,” … (www.afatherslove.info) for two reasons. First, to relate to the tremendous, unconditional love I have for my son, Jared. The second reason is to relate to the tremendous, unconditional love that God has for each of His children. I have promised my son Jared, in speaking to his Spirit, that I will do all I can in the time I have left on this earth to honor him … what he stood for, what he lived for, and what he died for.
On February 5th, 1976 when Jared was born in Davenport, Iowa I was in the delivery room. When he was just half-way delivered from within his mother, he had both of those little arms stretched out wide and he was screaming his head off. It was as if he couldn’t wait to get on with his life … to embrace it and start to make his “mark” here on earth. In the next 30 years and 17 days, that is exactly what he did. In that time-span, his life on earth, he left a most honorable, permanent, valuable legacy … one of truth, commitment, passion, love and courage that I and thousands of others will never forget.
As a very young boy, Jared started to display wonderful, endearing traits that developed into the unique personality that defined my son:
- a great concern for others
- a love of animals
- a wonderful, most often, dry sense of humor where with one line and a straight face he could knock you down in laughter
- a kind heart, strong will
- a desire to always do his best
- a totally unselfish nature
- a smile that would just melt you
When he was 5 years old, I purposely started to talk with and teach Jared about the word “trust.” As with his older brother, Jeff, and then later with his sister, Jonika, I introduced him to Dad’s version of “superman rides.” Those rides required trust. I placed Jared at the top of the stairs leading to the recreation room and the bedrooms. I went down four stairs, turned and faced him. With my arms stretched in front of me to catch him, the goal was for him to step back a few paces, then run and leap forward, head first, with his arms straight in front of him (such as when “superman” was flying through the air) and dive into the safety of my arms. When he would, at first, hesitantly and haltingly “fall” into my arms, I would say we have to do it over. It took a while at first but then and every time thereafter, Jared would run and leap … I mean he would dive head first with abandon into my arms KNOWING that I would catch him (without a doubt). He knew that Dad would never drop him. Then the ride would go throughout the house. I would have him in my outstretched arms as I would run, sideways, so he could fly as Superman, head first, from room to room. Jared learned the meaning of that word … trust … at an early age. Everyone, he touched in his life knew that he could be trusted. His word was his bond.
One of the countless stories I love to tell about Jared (because it so accurately describes him) is when I was his Summer & Fall soccer league coach. In the Championship game, at age 10, Jared scored the first goal and then the game winning goal in a 3 to 2 victory. The following Monday, when he came home from school, I asked him if he told his friends there about what he had done in the soccer game. He looked at me with a totally straight face and sincere expression and said, “No, Dad, that would be bragging.” That statement, that reply speaks volumes about Jared Scott Jensen.
As so many people now know, Jared’s first huge passion was acting. He, Jeff and Jonika used to put on “plays” for their Mom and me starting when they were 6, 9 and 5 respectively. The plays were always quite formal and hilariously funny. With puppets made out of small paper bags on their hands or in full home-made costumes, they would perform for the two of us. There was never a doubt that Jared was the director. The God-given talent of acting that Jared possessed was born during those plays for us… his parents. Jared’s talent for acting was nurtured at Auburn High School, Rockford, Illinois, which had special opportunities for those pursuing the Performing Arts. That talent came to full bloom at Otterbein College where he graduated with a degree in Theatre. It was there, at Otterbein College in Ohio, where he met the love of his life, Natalie. A more perfect match of man and woman, then husband and wife cannot be found. She brought a truly, indescribable joy to his life. To watch the two of them, together, always warmed my heart and I often thanked God for the gift of Natalie to my son, Jared.
Beginning at age 11, Jared performed in many plays for a number of years at New American Theatre in Rockford, Illinois. He won the role of Boy Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” and during its five week run, I saw it 19 times. There was a scene where Jared, alone, came on to a darkened stage with a lit candle in his hands and then, unaccompanied, sang a sad song. At that moment, while attending one of those performances I just couldn’t help myself. I was there alone and turned to the lady on my left, a total stranger, and announced with enormous pride …”that’s my son.”
In Jared’s senior year in College, for his Internship he worked at Fox Studio in Hollywood. I visited him there and enjoyed myself immensely. Jared loved acting. Loved it with a total passion and was truly gifted. However, slightly over four years ago, he phoned me to say he was going to change careers. He had thought long and hard about it. He was fed up with the “Hollywood scene” associated with acting AND (more importantly to him he said) he wanted his life to matter for some thing more profound. He wanted to serve others and have his life make a difference. He said he was going to apply for the same Police department that his older brother, Jeff, had joined some six years before … The Colorado Springs Police Department. He applied and after a vigorous screening process, was one of the few accepted.
When I rode with Jared, first when he was on Traffic (which he loved) and later when he was involved in dismantling Meth labs, undercover work and ridding the streets of Drug peddlers, it was extremely apparent to me that (A.) he was so very dedicated to and impassioned about the duties he performed and (B.) he was a total Professional. With having ten years of riding with his brother, Sgt. Jeff Jensen, CSPD, I have had the opportunity to watch a dedicated professional up close. With Jared, I saw first hand and immediately, the same traits, the same dedication and the same professionalism that Jeff posseses. After Jared applied for what became his last CSPD assignment, I was anxious to hear from him how he liked it. It became quite evident on that first phone call and every subsequent phone call, that Jared LOVED his new assignment. "Dad, I love it because it allows me a much bigger opportunity to get the bad guys off the streets." That is a direct quote that he repeated often to me. That is what he did ... that is what he was all about. He was so dedicated and impassioned in getting the bad guys off the streets. That is what he did, again and again, and he loved it. Blessed and rare is the person who so throughly enjoys their work as he did.
At the February 27th, 2006 Service for Jared at the Church of New Life, Colorado Springs, CO., CSPD Police Chief, Luis Velez spoke so beautifully about my Jared, his service and dedication. (Read Chief Valez's entire words under "Hero Remembered" button at the top of this page). Near the end of his words about Jared, Chief Valez made a most wonderful proclamation. He stated that henceforth, at EVERY future CSPD Academy graduation ceremony, one cadet would be identified for possesing outstanding traits and would receive the "Jared Scott Jensen Leadership Award" How tremendous that is. Now in all future graduation classes of the CSPD, ALL cadets will have an opportunity to learn and know about my son, my Jared.
With each of my children, we never end a phone conversation … we never part company when together with out saying to one another, “I love you.” Twenty four hours before my Jared joined our Heavenly Father he and I spoke on the phone for about 25 minutes. He was so excited, because he was coming to the Chicago area for a week to be with me … to go to his first NASCAR race, then we were going to play Golf and then we were going to see the Cubs play. All three, NASCAR, golf and the Cubs were things he loved. When we finished that wonderful ... last conversation, I said "I love you Honey." The last words I heard from my Jared were when he said .......
"I LOVE YOU, DAD."
So, I wait. And I wait for that time when I will be with my Jared in the presence of Almighty God. I will fulfill my responsibilities as husband, Father and Grandfather to the best of my abilities until I join Jared. I so enjoy being with my wife, Marilyn ... my son, Jeff, my daughter, Jonika and our four wonderful Grandchildren (Courtney, Kyle, Aaron and Faith JS) and fantastic Daughters-in-law (Natalie & Meredith) and son-in-law (John) and my two step-daughters (Jackie and Pam).
Life will never be the same for me and the rest of our family. BUT ... we will go on with grief, broken hearts and monstrous pain ... we will go on and live because that is what Jared wants us to do. We will honor him always. We celebrate his life and legacy ... one that has touched and will continue to touch thousands of lives. We thank God for the most wonderful gift of Jared, my boy.
I love you, son.
... Dad
