Nourdine H. Jensen, 95, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Oct. 11, 2009. He was at Island Hospital in Anacortes after fighting a brief illness.
Graveside service is Thursday, 11:30 a.m., at Valley Cemetery. Memorial service follows at 1 p.m. at Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church. The graveside service will be conducted by the Masonic Lodge.
Nourdine was born Sept. 17, 1914 in the home his father built in Friday Harbor, Wash. Born to Albert and Julia Jane (Frits) Jensen, Nourdine lived in Friday Harbor about 83 of his 95 years.
After graduating from Friday Harbor High School, Nourdine attended the University of Washington and worked as an auto mechanic in Seattle. In 1938, he married Vera Smethurst of Seattle before he returned home to help his father with the family business, Albert Jensen & Sons Shipyard. Soon after coming home, he served in World War II as a chief motor machinist’s Mate in the South Pacific.
In 1946, Nourdine and Vera settled permanently in Friday Harbor. Nord eventually took over operations at the shipyard where he worked until the day he died. He designed and/or built more than 150 boats in his tenure at the yard while at the same time serving his community in capacities such as: first Friday Harbor Port Commission, 1950-1973; Friday Harbor Town Council, 1953-1959; OPALCO board, 1965-69 and 1975-2008; and as a school board member, a volunteer firefighter, member of the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church, charter member of the San Juan Island Yacht Club, and member of the San Juan Masonic Lodge for more than 60 years.
Nourdine is preceded in death by his wife, Vera (Smethurst) Jensen, and his brother Benjamin Frits Jensen.
He is survived by his sister, Mary Ellen (Jensen) Gunderson; daughter, Jeri Lynn Ahrenius (Michael); grandchildren, Alisa Marie (Felthous) Schoultz (Scott), Jensen Charles Ahrenius, David Benjamin Ahrenius, and great-granddaughter, Vera Jane Schoultz.
Nourdine believed in keeping electricity affordable for everyone. Donations made in Nourdine’s name can be directed to OPALCO’s Project PAL (1034 Guard St., Friday Harbor 98250), or any local charity of your choice.
To share memories of or tributes to Nourdine Jensen, visit www.evanschapel.com.
— Family of Nourdine Jensen
