MLN-Obitaug21-14Kimball Earl Jensen, 62, of Desert Springs, AZ and Mesquite, died in his home on August 16, 2014.

Kimball was born to Earl and Carol Jensen in Fort Ord, CA on October 4, 1951. He married Brenda Lynn Jensen (Williams) on September 3, 1972. Together, they enjoyed a life of travel, children, and grandchildren.

As a small child, Kimball traveled extensively with his parents and first three sisters, Kristina, Judy, and Tamara. His family lived in Israel, Sacramento, CA, Washington D.C., and Ogden, UT. The family then moved to Mexico until he was a teen-ager. He attended the New Mexico Military Institute at Roswell, NM, before he set off again to explore the world and its skies. These early life adventures shaped his bold and unique perspective on life and learning. He ultimately settled in Southern Utah, where he and Brenda raised their three daughters.

Kimball loved to fly. He was fascinated by the subject of air and space. He earned his pilot’s license in his early 20s, and was an avid reader of military and aeronautical history. Kimball was passionate about travel and exploration. He loved to see the world, and inspired many others to do the same. He was a talented drummer and vocalist. He took great pleasure in music. He played a diverse range of albums during his travels, resulting in memorable soundtracks for all of his travel adventures.

Kimball also was a licensed contractor. He designed and built custom homes throughout Southern Utah. He was well-known for the aesthetic architectural designs and clever features he created.

Kimball was intent on being of service to his community. He first became an EMT in the early ‘80s, which led him to a remarkable career in medicine. In 1984, Kimball received his degree in Nursing, with high honors, from Weber State College via Dixie College and SUSC.

Over the next 30 years, Kimball led the charge as a registered nurse in emergency departments (ERs) in Utah and Nevada, helping to save thousands of lives. Kimball first worked in the ER at Dixie Medical Center, in St. George, UT, where he helped to establish its first fixed-wing Life Flight unit. Later, Kimball also worked in the ER at Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas, and then moved his practice to North Vista Hospital in North Las Vegas in the early ‘90s. He accepted a position as booking nurse at the Las Vegas City Jail in 1999.

In 2003, the open road called, and he took a 1-year hiatus to drive 18-wheeler trucks from coast-to-coast for Dick Simon Trucking. He returned to saving lives in 2004, when he accepted a position in the ER at Mesa View Regional Hospital in Mesquite, NV, where he practiced medicine for another 10 years before hanging up his stethoscope to prepare for retirement.

At the time of his death, Kimball was building a self-sustaining, eco-friendly home, greenhouse, and garden, the designs of which are marvels of engineering. He was also planning the next family vacation, as well as a European trip with Brenda.

Kimball was a brilliant, commanding, and adventurous leader and visionary. He was a devoted and cherished husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle, friend, and mentor. Words cannot describe our grief in losing him, or the depth of our gratitude for being loved by him.

Kimball is survived by his loving wife, Brenda; their three daughters, Janna Jensen Lewis (Michael), Sandra Lee (Charlie), and Karen Macias (Joe); seven grandchildren, Kimball, Savannah, Thomas, Olivia, Sofia, Fiona, and Lucia; and his many, dearly-loved siblings; all of whom he was fiercely proud. Kimball was preceded in death by his parents, Carol and Earl Jensen; his brothers, Joseph Owen and Larsen Earl; and his sisters, Leticia and Nina.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 22, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. MT at Spilsbury Mortuary, 110 Bluff Street, St. George, Utah. A viewing will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. MT prior to services at the mortuary. Interment will follow at the LaVerkin Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes fond, written remembrances of Kimball please send them to janna.lewis@yahoo.com. Friends and family also are invited to sign Kimball’s guest book at www.spilsburymortuary.com