TRIBUTE

Larry E. Jensen
Eulogy By Patrick Rummans

I NEVER IMAGINED it would be so hard to write these remembrances about my friend Larry Jensen. The difficulty lay in choosing only a few of the memories that have made Larry such a big part of so many lives. How can you possibly condense the largeness of a life into the smallness of words? My biggest fear was that I'd forget something special or important to his family or friends--some memory or event that was unique and cherished in their hearts. But then I realized that they already have the gift of these special memories, that they don't need me to remind them of what Larry was. How could I?

No, I think my job today is sharing with those of you that didn't know Larry so well, so that you too, can know him and remember him as those of us that loved and knew him best.

Larry would be upset with me for making him seem more than he was, so I will do my best to present Larry as the man he was, not a glorified saint, but a real person. I do know the real Larry. After 6 years of partnership, we knew the best and worst of each other. Larry called it a "marriage," and I used to tease him that I was still waiting for my diamond ring.

Our little taxidermy family grew by one in 1997 when Jim Kimball came as my student, grew to be our friend, and never left. Jim and Larry had a special bond and would often team up together--at my expense. The years we all spent together at the shop were typified by the horseplay and joking that went on almost daily. Larry once wrapped a handkerchief around his head and burst into a rendition of the "river dance," flailing and kicking like a madman. It became a popular event at the shop and no one could come close to Larry's enthusiastic performance. I did reduce him to tears one day, however, when I came bursting into the room pirouetting like a ballerina, but still he was the Lord of the Dance.

Larry taught me the difficult and subtle art of "off singing." That's where you sing just slightly off key and very loudly to songs on the radio. This too was very popular, and although I tried my best, Larry was always the master. He was so good at spontaneous outbursts! He always made me laugh when...