The Life of MARCUS JURGENSEN
MARCUS JURGEN (SVAEREN) JURGENSEN
Born: November 17, 1900 in the beautiful Sogn Fjord, Balestrand, Norway
Died: February 20, 1972 in Des Moines, Iowa
The only child of a second marriage, Marcus was born to Jorgen Hanson Svaeren (1852-1935) and Brita Nilsdatter Jordal (1855-1938), joining 11 other siblings. He was raised in the Lutheran Church and finished his public schooling in Norway.
Because employment in Norway was scarce and Marcus had a sense for adventure, he joined the Norwegian merchant Marines and visited many port cities around the globe. Public records show him entering Chicago’s Lake Michigan port in 1925. However, when he signed in at port he “Americanized” his name, changing it to Marcus Jurgensen (son of Jorgen).
While visiting a cousin (Sally Dale) in Chicago, Marcus found a job as male nurse at a large Chicago hospital. During the next few years, he bought an unimproved residential Chicago lot, purchased a luxury automobile, took up boxing lessons and started logging flying hours toward getting his pilot’s license.
After being injured in a hospital accident and spending several months recuperating, Marcus sold everything, left Chicago and headed west, stopping to work at odd jobs along the way. In Colfax (Iowa) Marcus found employment as a live-in personal aide and nurse to an elder member of the Daniels (Jewelers) family. When Mr. Daniels passed away, Marcus moved on again.
In short time Marcus became a farmhand for Harry A. and Alma M. Lewis (on what is currently the site of DMACC, Ankeny campus) in exchange for board and room. One of the three Lewis daughters, Catherine, caught his interest. Because times were hard in the 1930’s, their courtship and engagement stretched into five years. Meanwhile Catherine continued teaching in the elementary grades.
Finally, after Marcus secured paid employment at a local tire company offering a regular paycheck, Marcus and Catherine were married on August 28, 1938 in small ceremony in the gardens of Ankeny First United Methodist Church. Fifteen months later they welcomed a daughter, Janis, and in August of 1943, a son, Burt.
Iowa was beautiful and life was good here. Finally, Marcus had settled down and began putting down roots.
After retiring in 1960, Marcus developed health issues and passed away at age 71. By then he had lived in the greater Des Moines area for many years and was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church and the Home Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed gardening, listening to radio broadcasts of Chicago Cubs’ baseball games, and having a cold beer on a hot summer night. He was a model US-naturalized citizen and dedicated family man.
Marcus is survived by his wife of 33 years, Catherine; daughter Janis (Robert D.) Meek of West Des Moines, a son Burt (Donna) of Woodward and five grandchildren.