Holden: Allen Peter Jepsen, 81, passed away peacefully in his home on March 26, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sandra (Ross) Jepsen and his daughter, Carolyn Jepsen.
A lifelong resident of Massachusetts, Al was born in Worcester to a thoroughly Scandinavian household, full of Danish pride and just the right amount of Swedish stubbornness. The son of Ernest Overgaard Jepsen and Dorothy (Allen) Jepsen, he was the youngest of a trio of siblings that included his sisters, Lois and Carol. He often told stories of extended family and friends, fondly remembering times with his aunts Lillian, Peg, Helen and Mabel. Al graduated from North High School and went on to attend Penn State University where he studied what he was most passionate about: history.
Allen was an avid reader and amateur historian who spent countless hours studying the history and stories of the American Civil War. In recent years, he and his wife Sandy made yearly pilgrimages to Gettysburg, PA where he would walk the battlefields with his beloved dogs as part of the Greyhounds in Gettysburg convention. His best trip to the battlefields was perhaps one taken not to Gettysburg, but to Antietam, which featured a canoe trip down the creek and an ensuing battle with the mud, which was lost by his daughter. The photographic evidence of her mishap brought him joy for many years to come – he actually recounted the story just last week. “Remember that time you fell in the mud? That was pretty funny…want to see the pictures?”
Jokester, adventurer, proud coffee lover, carpenter, gardener and decorated Vietnam Veteran are all words one could use to describe Al. The dogs would tell you that he was the best walker, best cookie giver and best ear scratcher. Al loved to work with his hands, a skill he learned from his father and his aunts. Over the years he built many sheds, along with other carpentry and garden projects, graciously passing this family love on to his daughter. He had an adventurous streak that he shared with his sister, Lois, taking several trips down the white waters of the Connecticut River and countless motorcycle jaunts with his friend, Phil. If he could recommend anything, it would be the scallop dinner from Sir Cricket’s in Eastham, the band concerts and farmer’s market in Barre, blueberry picking at Derrick Farm in Oakham, a cup of coffee and M*A*S*H*.
Al had the strongest, most caring and gentle heart that the world will ever know and he will be sorely missed. He also hated squirrels. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Al’s name can be made to Greyhound Friends Inc. of Hopkinton.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. in Nordgren Memorial Chapel 300 Lincoln St. Worcester, MA 01605.
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