Irma Maxine Jensen
August 21, 1932 ~ February 25, 2026
Born in:
Rural Elma, Iowa
Resided in:
Elma, Iowa
Irma Maxine (Bodermann) Jensen, 93, of Elma, Iowa, passed peacefully into her eternal home on February 25, 2026, at Howard County Hospital in Cresco, Iowa.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 28, 2026, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elma with Rev. Miller officiating. Max Bodermann, Paul Bodermann, Michael Reed, Larry Trende, Mahlon Zimmerman, John Leid, and Eric Wemark will be serving as pallbearers. Dick Wright, Edward Buls, and Kenneth Schmidt will be serving as honorary pallbearers.
Friends may greet the family two hours prior to services at the church in Elma on Saturday.
Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in Elma has been entrusted with arrangements.
Born August 21, 1932, on a farm near Elma during the Great Depression to Otto and Lenora (Schmidt) Bodermann, she entered this world at home, delivered by her father. That beginning reflected the strength and resilience that would define her life.
Except for a brief time in LeRoy, Minnesota, after her marriage, Irma spent her entire life in the Elma community she loved deeply. She graduated as valedictorian of the Elma High School Class of 1950. As the middle child of five children, she was fiercely competitive and earned All-State honors as a basketball guard, competing in the Iowa State Six-on-Six Basketball Tournament. Her determination and pursuit of excellence never left her.
On June 20, 1954, she married Robert Martin Jensen at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elma. In 1957, they moved to their farm northwest of town, where they built a life grounded in hard work, faith, and family. As a dairy farmer’s wife, Irma milked cows seven days a week alongside Bob, farmed the land with him, and managed the finances with care and precision. Farm life was demanding and sometimes uncertain, yet she embraced each season fully — rock picking to clear the fields of what glaciers left behind, welcoming new piggies, calves, and kitties, tending large gardens that fed both family and neighbors, and planting flowers that flourished under her gifted green thumb.
She shared a lifetime of humor with Bob, which should have been no surprise since he got her attention by tapping her with a flyswatter to ask her on their first date. On one memorable occasion, he tried to bring a garter snake into the farmhouse as one of his jokes. Seeing him coming through the front door, Irma ran quickly out the back with speed worthy of an Olympic athlete. Their marriage was built on devotion, partnership, shared purpose, and laughter. When retirement came, she and Bob enjoyed golden years of good health, traveling extensively throughout the United States and Canada, and always returning home to Elma.
Irma was the heart of her family. She and Bob were blessed with two daughters a generation apart, and later two granddaughters. Togetherness mattered deeply to her. Whenever her children were coming home, she would say, “I don’t need anything — just my family safe with me.” There was no greater joy for her than having everyone gathered under one roof. She and Bob instilled strong values, a faith-centered compass, and a commitment to kindness, hard work, and generosity in their children. The foundation she laid continues through the generations. Her family knows who they are because of her example.
A woman of deep and abiding faith, Irma was baptized, confirmed, and married at St. Peter Lutheran Church, where she remained active her entire life. She taught Sunday School for many years, sang in the choir, and was active in AAL and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Through her church sewing circle, she helped sew and tie thousands of quilts sent around the world, from the African continent to Ukraine. She often said to never underestimate the importance of a quilt, which could be shelter, clothing, and comfort to someone in need.
Irma lived a life of giving and advocacy. She served on the Auxiliary at Colonial Manor for many years, made sunshine visits to the homebound, and joyfully played Santa Claus at the nursing home — beard, tummy, and all. She loved sudoku puzzles, solitaire, reading, cooking, baking pies and cookies, playing the keyboard Bob surprised her with, growing her bell collection through gifts from family and friends, and following Iowa girls’ basketball. After her father’s death in the 1970s, Irma became active in politics, lobbying on behalf of farmers’ widows and helping improve estate laws to recognize the vital role of farm wives.
Irma is survived by her daughters: Ruth and her husband Rev. Timothy Brisbois of Beatrice, Nebraska, and Janet Jensen of Tinley Park, Illinois; her granddaughters, Dr. Elizabeth Brisbois of Athens, Georgia, and Rebekah (Brisbois) Pavlish and her husband Ryan Pavlish of Lincoln, Nebraska; and her beloved kitty companion, Snuggles.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Otto and Lenora Bodermann; her siblings, Marie (Bodermann) Rabenberg, John Bodermann, and Dale Bodermann; and her husband, Robert M. Jensen.
Irma’s Confirmation verse guided her throughout her life: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5.
Irma often said she was blessed — blessed in faith and family. Her children, grandchildren, and all who truly knew her felt she was simply the best mother, aunt, and grandmother. Her family takes comfort in knowing that although her earthly existence has ended, she has been reunited with her heavenly family and is with her Savior. Her life was steady, faithful, generous, and full of love. She was the heart of her family — and she will forever remain there.
Memorials may be directed to St. Peter Lutheran Church, Howard Cemetery–Elma, Elma Clinic, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Radio Program (KNNA) at https://thecross957.org/donate/, or charity of donor’s choice.
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One incredible individual – Irma had a positive impact on many of kids that attended St. Peters. Her and Bob were good friends of my folks and I remember spending time at their house. Bob was my brother Dan’s godfather. Rest in Peace Irma.