Erik Jensen

Erik “Jack” Jensen, 80 years old, of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, passed away on July 30th
from pneumonia and sepsis.
Erik was born on February 14th, 1943, to Erik John Hannibal Jensen and Susan Jane Leverton
in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. He attended Huntington High School in Indiana and Manasquan
High School in New Jersey. He attended the University of Indiana and was an active Beta Theta
Pi fraternity member. After graduating with a degree in business, he was commissioned in the
US airforce in 1967. He was then assigned U10 Helio Courier, better known as the “Bullshit
Bomber” (no irony). He served extensively in Vietnam and Thailand. After his tour, he flew the
C141 Starlifter, a heavy transport aircraft. He served as pilot and aircraft commander at Norton
Airforce Base, San Bernadino, California, and was discharged in 1973.
After serving his country, he began his career as a commercial pilot. He flew for Eastern,
Singapore, Tower, Tradewinds, Freedom, and Mesa Airlines.
In 1983, Erik married Sue Ross Chase in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He became a loving, caring
stepfather to Jennifer Marie Chase and Philip Adam Chase. He introduced his family to his
adventurous world of travel, snow skiing, and sailing. Some of his incredible adventures include
sailing the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, helicopter skiing, and running with the bulls in
Pamplona, Spain.
In 2003, Erik retired from 38 years in aviation and spent his time between Sunset Beach, North
Carolina, and Granby, Colorado. He enjoyed skiing and golfing in the Colorado mountains.
Erik was predeceased by his parents, Erik and Susan Jensen, and his sister Judy Ashlock. Erik
is survived by his wife Sue Jensen, of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, his daughter Jennifer
Phares (Chuck) of Roswell, Georgia, and his son Philip Chase (Juliana) of Fort Lauderdale,
Florida. He also has three grandchildren, Carly, Kate, and Ryan Phares. He is also survived by
his siblings, Betsy Gimmer (Doug) of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Bud Jensen (Beth) of Williamsburg,
Virginia; and Susie Tomlin (Jerry) of Aurora, Colorado.
Erik was a lover of fun. He was always down for a good time, and was always willing to laugh,
mostly at terrible jokes. He spent the last several years of his life matching the miles per hour
and amount of days skiing to his increasing age (i.e. 75, 76…). Skiing in a dog costume or
Tuxedo was emblematic in many ways of who he was. Falling asleep mid-conversation showed
commitment to suffering nothing boring. Wherever he goes from here, he will be sure to make it
fun. Things were getting a little dull around here for him.