Christopher Jensen

Chris Jensen a.k.a. Dad a.k.a. Pops a.k.a. Christopher Strawberry was born on May 14th, 1944, the first of three kids born to Chris Jensen Sr. and Alma Jensen. Three years later his brother Greg came along followed by sister Jan four years after that.

As a kid Chris enjoyed building forts and lawnmower engine powered go-carts, and enjoyed anything involving the outdoors-usually with younger brother Greg and sister Jan alongside him. Chris graduated from high school and went off to college graduating from Portland State with a degree in Geography. After college Chris spent his time working seasonal jobs at fish hatcheries, ski areas, and eventually the Forest Service. When not working (or often while working), he enjoyed recreating outdoors. He embarked upon numerous adventures, often with his brother Greg. A traditional adventure for several years was to attempt to be the first ones to summit Mt. Hood on New Years Day.

In 1977 at the age of 34 Chris settled down and married his first wife Sheri. A year later in 1978, Brian, the first of Chris's three children, was born. Less than 3 years later his first daughter, McKenzie came along followed by Sierra 4 ½ years later. Chris settled in Oakridge and took a full time job at the Oakridge Ranger District in Recreation where he worked to maintain and improve many of the Oakridge recreation areas. He was in charge of the special use permit at Willamette Pass ski area, worked to protect, nurture and enhance the Waldo Lake area, and laid out and maintained several cross country ski trails on the Willamette National Forest. One of his proudest and most popular projects was Maiden Peak Cabin, located just off the Pacific Crest Trail. Chris designed and built Maiden Peak Cabin, which is enjoyed by hundreds of recreationalists each year. After retiring, he continued as to take care of it for the rest of his life as a volunteer.

Chris loved his job, but he loved his kids even more. He taught them all how to ski, even before they could walk. Along with skiing he took them into the outdoors to camp, bike, climb mountains, sail, canoe, fish, hike, cut wood and shoot BB guns. Chris also created and coached the first and only Oakridge school district cross-country ski team for the 2003-04 season. The team was made up of Sierra and her friends, several of whom had never stepped into cross-country skis before in their lives.

In 1993 Chris married his second wife Kathy in a summertime outdoor ceremony with his kids present. Kathy embraced Chris's kids along with his outdoor lifestyle. In 2003 Chris retired from the Forest Service, convinced Kathy to quit her job and embarked upon a 20-year recreation adventure. Chris and Kathy traveled the western United States in pursuit of recreational opportunities. This often included visiting and recreating, and/or volunteering to work with his kids in Montana, Washington, Idaho, California, British Columbia and Eastern Oregon. When not adventuring he continued to volunteer with search and rescue and the Willamette Backcountry Ski Patrol, helped to maintain various snow shelters, and lent a helping hand to his kids whenever they needed it, which was often.

Chris was diagnosed with an incurable form of blood cancer in 2011. He was told he only had a few years to live, but instead he rallied, embraced life, continued to adventure and fought like crazy. Chris passed away on December 31st 2022 surrounded by his wife and kids. He will be missed by all those whose lives he touched.