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Local man left legacy in Tanzania, Africa

He grew up in the small towns of northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, but his legacy will forever be left in the villages of Tanzania, Africa.

Mark Appelt Jensen, of Annandale, Minn., died Monday, June 13, at his home, after what was nearly a decade-long battle with cancer. He was 65.

Though Jensen and his wife were never scared during their missions in Tanzania, they rarely traveled without guides. He earned the name Babu Mzee from them, which means old grandpa, which is a show of their respect. -- Photo provided

Jensen, who was born in Estherville, Iowa, lived near Waltham and went to school in Hayfield, was key in bringing modern agriculture and religion to villages in Tanzania from 2003 until the time of his death. Though Jensen didn’t find his calling until later in life, he was influential during his years of missionary work in Tanzania, according to his wife, Terry. He drew from his lifelong knowledge of farming.

Mark grew up on farms with his siblings, received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education from the University of Minnesota, taught agricultural education in Mabel-Canton School and owned a dairy and hog farm.

“Everything he did, he jumped into it full bore,” said Mark’s brother, Joel Jensen. “That was the way he did everything throughout his life.”

As early as age 1, Mark rode horseback with a pillow on top of the saddle horn in the arms of his father. Joel grew up on farms with Mark, and remembers Mark getting hands-on with farming near age 5.

He always had some sort of exposure to agriculture; but later in life, he got more exposure to the church.

When Mark made a commitment to serve as an ELCA missionary, he didn’t know what to expect, Terry said. His church suggested a mission for drilling wells in Tanzania. Mark didn’t know if it was really for him, but he thought he had to do something, according to Terry.

Aside from improved agriculture, Jensen and his wife started helping with educational improvements in the area. -- Photo provided

“He had to make a commitment to Jesus first before Jesus really showed him what his true mission was,” she said.

The arrangement worked out well because Dr. Bangu, provost of the University of Tumaini in Tanzania, asked Mark to be volunteer founding director of the Institute of Agriculture, a position Mark took despite some unfortunate timing. Mark was diagnosed with cancer at the same time he decided to take the mission. However, he dealt with it by making trips back and forth from Africa, so he could receive treatment in the U.S.

Mark and Terry both spent time in numerous villages and shared farming techniques with companion churches in Tanzania. They showed people how to weed, apply fertilizer, space out seeds, harvest, store and market crops. Mark also taught the villagers how to work within their means, so they could buy all their inputs locally and be self-sustaining.

Aside from extreme poverty in the villages, Terry said the people still used the old method of burning off their crops each year, but she and Mark explained how crop residue decomposes and gives nutrients to the soil. Most farmers, who owned two-acre plots in Tanzania, were able to go from 30 bushels per acre of corn to 140. Though Mark had to travel back to the U.S. every few months, he earned the respect of Tanzanians and became very well known throughout the country.

“We were going to village after village after village to get these projects started,” Terry said about all the people they’ve met.

Mark earned the name Babu Mzee, which means old grandpa. However, to Tanzanians, it meant more about respect than age.

Mark didn’t stop taking the trips until July 2010, when his condition didn’t allow him to travel anymore. But he still did what he could from home. His missionary efforts are still in full swing.

Mark is survived by his wife, Terry; daughters, Ann Joos and Billie Jo (Lane) Van Lith; six grandchildren, Elizabeth Van Lith, Cole and Crystal Joos, Victoria, Alicia and Sophia Van Lith; siblings, Margaret Haukom of Austin, Bill (Jan) of Kasson, Blaine (Mary Jo) of Askov, Joel (Marsha) Jensen of Austin and Jon (Lila) of Owatonna; many other family and friends.

Tanzanians listen to Mark Jensen, who as a missionary was instrumental in employing new farming practices in Africa. His wife, Terry, continues to serve on the mission. -- Photo provided

He is preceded in death by his parents, Millen and Blanche Jensen, and brother-in-law, Lowell Haukom.

Terry will continue trips to Africa several times a year to carry out the agricultural and now educational improvements that her husband employed.

“His legacy will continue on there,” she said.