David Jensen

David Elmer Thure Jensen, a retired diplomat and teacher, died in Samut Prakan, Thailand, on June 11, 2025.

He was born May 20,1947, in Abbotsford and raised there, the third child of Elmer and Rev. Lillian Jensen; he graduated from Abbotsford High School, from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota with a BA degree, and from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C. with an MA degree.

His professional career was focused on supporting international cooperation and economic development. He worked as a rural development officer in Kenya with the U.S. Peace Corps for three years, as a diplomat in the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. and in U.S. missions in several countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East for 25 years, and as a teacher of Southeast Asian studies in the U.S. Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Va., for six years. He also taught English as a second language for several years.

He was a member of the American Foreign Service Association, the Thai-American Association and several Christian churches in the countries where he lived.

He married Janice King in Nigeria on Sept. 24,1972. They were later divorced. He married Sutthiporn “Rungnapa” Sae-Sue, who survives him, on Aug. 23, 1997, in Jerusalem. He is also survived by a son, Mark Jensen; two daughters: Christine Jensen and Sunanta “Oiy” Sarakul and her husband, Sayam and their two children: Mook and Anda; a brother, Emery (Judy) and two sisters: Linnea (Sam) Zier and their three children: Amy, Doug and Kim (Brian) Jeske and their three children: Tyler, Josh and Emma; and Karen (Ed) Purcell and their four children: Ed, Sarah (Chris), Dan, and David.

He enjoyed being with family and friends, learning, sports, traveling and photography. His body was cremated. In lieu of flowers, his family suggests that donations be made to the Red Cross or to UNICEF.

A funeral was held in Thailand.

Paid obituary 170399