Irma Maxine (Bodermann) Jensen, 93
Wed, 03/04/2026 - 9:31am
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August 21, 1932 -
February 25, 2026
Irma Maxine (Bodermann) Jensen, 93, of Elma, Iowa, died February 25, 2026.
Irma was born on August 21, 1932, on a farm near Elma during the Great Depression. She graduated as valedictorian of the Elma High School Class of 1950 and was an All-State basketball guard who competed in the Iowa State Girls Basketball Tournament.
On June 20, 1954, she married Robert Martin Jensen at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elma. In 1957, they moved to a farm northwest of town, where they farmed until retiring in 1994 and moved into Elma. Irma worked alongside her husband milking cows and managing the finances.
She was an active lifelong member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, teaching Sunday School, VBS, singing in the choir, and participating in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. She helped sew and tie thousands of quilts for mission world relief and served on the Auxiliary at Colonial Manor. For many years, she delighted residents by playing Santa Claus at the nursing home, beard, tummy and all.
Irma loved baking, gardening, playing the keyboard, and following Iowa girls Six on Six basketball. She took pride in her gardens, even when rabbits devoured kohlrabi and birds claimed her berries before she could. She and Bob enjoyed traveling throughout the USA after retirement.
She is survived by her daughters, Ruth (Rev. Timothy) Brisbois of Beatrice, Nebraska, and Janet Jensen of Tinley Park, Illinois; two granddaughters, Dr. Elizabeth Brisbois of Athens, Georgia, and Rebekah (Ryan) Pavlish of Lincoln, Nebraska; and her cat, Snuggles.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three siblings, Marie, John, and Dale, and her husband, Robert Jensen.
Memorials may be directed to St. Peter Lutheran Church, Howard Cemetery-Elma, Elma Clinic, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Radio Program (KNNA) at https://thecross957.org/donate/, or charity of donor's choice.
Hugeback Johnson - Funeral Home & Crematory in Elma has been entrusted with arrangements.
