Sheriff Candidate Doug Jenson
I was born on August 13th to Elaine K Jenson (Odegaard) and Warren H. Jenson. (Yes, catch the Nordic thing). I have one older sister, Sher.
My Dad was born, raised, graduated high school and is buried in Thompson, Iowa. My mom worked and retired as an Inspector for Fleetguard, in Lake Mills, IA.
My home was in Kiester where my dad owned and operated an auto body shop. Living in Kiester was a wonderful experience. My hero was Roy Rogers. I lived, ate, and slept thinking about horses. I had my first job when I was eleven years old. All the money went just to pay for a horse, the horse’s keep and my saddle.
My high school years were a wonderful time in my life. They revolved around music, wrestling and track. I was my Senior Class President, Homecoming King, Boy’s State Representative and one of five members of our track team that competed and won the Minnesota State Track meet.
My undergraduate work was at Moorhead State University (now Minnesota State University – Moorhead). I received my Bachelor of Science degree from there.
I met my wife, Lora at Moorhead State. We married in 1981. We have three children. Before moving to Iowa to accept the position of Deputy Sheriff, I worked for Northwest Airlines’ Credit Union.
Living in the Twin Cities was great, but something was missing. I missed the closeness of the smaller community. One night in 1993, while working as a reserve police officer, a call came in from our cities’ high school. This would be the school that my children would attend. Three students had been attacked from students from another school with gang affiliations. One young man had been beaten with a baseball bat and two others had been knifed. One of the knife victims coded and almost died. I remember going home after we arrested those involved, thinking that we lived in a wonderful suburb and I could not believe something like this had happened. I did not want my children growing up in this kind of atmosphere. Almost the next day my father contacted me. He said that there was an ad in his Thompson Courier paper that Winnebago County was hiring a deputy sheriff. Within three weeks of my father’s call, I applied for, tested and accepted the position of deputy sheriff. Three weeks from the time I heard of the job, I was moving my family to Winnebago County.
I became a Deputy Sheriff with Winnebago County in 1993. I had two children and one on the way. Our family had all the stressors one could imagine. We had a house in S. St. Paul and were renting a home in Forest City. We were now living in a new state. My children had to attend a new school with new friends. I had a new job and a completely new career. I had to attend another law enforcement academy (my third academy). Shortly before I went to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, our youngest daughter was born. Wow! I’m not sure how my wife continued to manage to support me as she did, but she did. Winnebago County is my family’s home.
For years I have used some form of exercise as a stress reliever. I began running long distances when I was working at Methodist Hospital. Some form of exercise is probably my biggest hobby. Although I keep very busy with many things.
I love running, although I don’t devote as much time to it as I did. While working for Northwest Airlines Credit Union, I would average around five miles of running a day. My weekends were my long runs (ten miles and more). During the summer months, when I was running a lot, I would try to run some sort of a race at least every other weekend. My favorite races were probably 10K’s (6.2 miles). Next were the 5K’s (3.1 miles). However, running the marathons (26.2 miles), gave me the greatest satisfaction. One major goal of mine is to run one more marathon. If not this year, definitely next!
I guess you could consider teaching at Waldorf a hobby, even if it actually is a job. I had only planned on teaching for about five years. But, I just can’t seem to give it up. I enjoy the students. It keeps me in touch with a younger generation. I also have the Wellness Center (weight room) at Waldorf, at my disposal. During the school year, I try to lift three to five times a week.
My biggest interest right now is martial arts (www.americanstateskarate.com). I take classes up to three times a week with my youngest daughter, Emily. It is a very challenging sport and probably should remain with a younger people, but I love it. It is demanding but rewarding, helps me in my job and gives me much quality time with my daughter.
Other interests I currently have include golfing, riding my motorcycles and some form of building. Right now I am in the process of building cabinets for my shop and constructing a four-waterfall pond. I was a music major in college and still play my trumpet. I love to travel when I have the time.
My home church is a small Christian church in Forest City. My family has developed some very close friendships there. It is a small church in comparison to others in the area, but I love it.
I was born on August 13th to Elaine K Jenson (Odegaard) and Warren H. Jenson. (Yes, catch the Nordic thing). I have one older sister, Sher.
My Dad was born, raised, graduated high school and is buried in Thompson, Iowa. My mom worked and retired as an Inspector for Fleetguard, in Lake Mills, IA.
My home was in Kiester where my dad owned and operated an auto body shop. Living in Kiester was a wonderful experience. My hero was Roy Rogers. I lived, ate, and slept thinking about horses. I had my first job when I was eleven years old. All the money went just to pay for a horse, the horse’s keep and my saddle.
My high school years were a wonderful time in my life. They revolved around music, wrestling and track. I was my Senior Class President, Homecoming King, Boy’s State Representative and one of five members of our track team that competed and won the Minnesota State Track meet.
My undergraduate work was at Moorhead State University (now Minnesota State University – Moorhead). I received my Bachelor of Science degree from there.
I met my wife, Lora at Moorhead State. We married in 1981. We have three children. Before moving to Iowa to accept the position of Deputy Sheriff, I worked for Northwest Airlines’ Credit Union.
Living in the Twin Cities was great, but something was missing. I missed the closeness of the smaller community. One night in 1993, while working as a reserve police officer, a call came in from our cities’ high school. This would be the school that my children would attend. Three students had been attacked from students from another school with gang affiliations. One young man had been beaten with a baseball bat and two others had been knifed. One of the knife victims coded and almost died. I remember going home after we arrested those involved, thinking that we lived in a wonderful suburb and I could not believe something like this had happened. I did not want my children growing up in this kind of atmosphere. Almost the next day my father contacted me. He said that there was an ad in his Thompson Courier paper that Winnebago County was hiring a deputy sheriff. Within three weeks of my father’s call, I applied for, tested and accepted the position of deputy sheriff. Three weeks from the time I heard of the job, I was moving my family to Winnebago County.
I became a Deputy Sheriff with Winnebago County in 1993. I had two children and one on the way. Our family had all the stressors one could imagine. We had a house in S. St. Paul and were renting a home in Forest City. We were now living in a new state. My children had to attend a new school with new friends. I had a new job and a completely new career. I had to attend another law enforcement academy (my third academy). Shortly before I went to the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, our youngest daughter was born. Wow! I’m not sure how my wife continued to manage to support me as she did, but she did. Winnebago County is my family’s home.
For years I have used some form of exercise as a stress reliever. I began running long distances when I was working at Methodist Hospital. Some form of exercise is probably my biggest hobby. Although I keep very busy with many things.
I love running, although I don’t devote as much time to it as I did. While working for Northwest Airlines Credit Union, I would average around five miles of running a day. My weekends were my long runs (ten miles and more). During the summer months, when I was running a lot, I would try to run some sort of a race at least every other weekend. My favorite races were probably 10K’s (6.2 miles). Next were the 5K’s (3.1 miles). However, running the marathons (26.2 miles), gave me the greatest satisfaction. One major goal of mine is to run one more marathon. If not this year, definitely next!
I guess you could consider teaching at Waldorf a hobby, even if it actually is a job. I had only planned on teaching for about five years. But, I just can’t seem to give it up. I enjoy the students. It keeps me in touch with a younger generation. I also have the Wellness Center (weight room) at Waldorf, at my disposal. During the school year, I try to lift three to five times a week.
My biggest interest right now is martial arts (www.americanstateskarate.com). I take classes up to three times a week with my youngest daughter, Emily. It is a very challenging sport and probably should remain with a younger people, but I love it. It is demanding but rewarding, helps me in my job and gives me much quality time with my daughter.
Other interests I currently have include golfing, riding my motorcycles and some form of building. Right now I am in the process of building cabinets for my shop and constructing a four-waterfall pond. I was a music major in college and still play my trumpet. I love to travel when I have the time.
My home church is a small Christian church in Forest City. My family has developed some very close friendships there. It is a small church in comparison to others in the area, but I love it.