Eunice Elvira (Woodbury) Jensen

Eunice Elvira Jensen, 94, of Burlington, formerly of Keokuk, passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2023, at Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House in West Burlington, Iowa.

Eunice was born on August 15, 1929, in Charleston, Iowa, the daughter of Lorenz and Hazel (Kinkeade) Woodbury. She graduated from Keokuk High School in 1948.  On October 14, 1949, Eunice was united in marriage to Maurice Hellyer in Carthage, Illinois, and they had five children.  On April 5, 1969, she married Charley Jensen in Kahoka, Missouri.  Both Maurice and Charley are deceased.

Over the years, Eunice worked a variety of part-time jobs to help support her family. She found her calling was taking care of others, and she worked at Keokuk Area Hospital for over twenty-four years until her retirement. After retirement, she assisted in caregiving for the elderly.

Eunice was a member of First Christian Church of Keokuk and was actively involved in her Bible study at the assisted living home. Her Christian faith was extremely important to her. She enjoyed spending her time crocheting, doing cross stitch, playing Bingo and Scrabble, and working the Daily Gate City crossword puzzle.  In her healthier days, she loved traveling, especially to Texas and on road trips with her sister, Donna. Eunice also loved being around and visiting with family and friends. 

Eunice is survived by her five children: Rodney “Rod” (Glenda) Hellyer of Liberty, Texas, Robbie “Rob” Hellyer of Houston, Texas, Rusty (Brenda) Hellyer of Pasadena, Texas, Ross (Kathy) Hellyer of Dayton, Texas, and Renee (Cloyd) Page of Fort Madison, Iowa; four step-children: Eloise Gaibel of Montrose, Iowa, Richard (Pam) Jensen of Media, Illinois, RuthAnn Ames of Texas, and Doug (Deb) Jensen of Montrose, Iowa; sister Donna Wyckoff of Bondurant, Iowa; two brothers: Leroy (Mary Jo) Woodbury of Wayland, Missouri, and Daryl (Pat) Ealy of Fort Madison, Iowa; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Eunice is preceded in death by her parents and her granddaughter Jessica Hellyer.

Funeral services will be held at 12 pm (Noon) on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at First Christian Church of Keokuk. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 10 am to 12 pm (noon) directly before the service. Burial will be held at 1 pm on Friday at Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton.

Memorials may be directed to First Christian Church of Keokuk.

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