08/29/2026
GRAMMY - FEELING LIKE 40 AGAIN
August 2026 Member of the Month: Tammy Jensen
By Susan Wheeler
Tammy Jensen was never drawn to participate in sports or visit a weightroom. Other than playing clarinet in her school’s pep and marching bands, she was shy and hesitant to get involved.
When she was just 49 years old, however, her husband passed away. Grieving and restless, it was time for Tammy to emerge from her comfort zone.
“I decided I needed to do something,” Tammy said.
She joined the YMCA and gravitated to the step aerobics and kettlebell classes. In 2018, her daughter-in-law, Rachel Jensen, told her about CF4CF - a new event created to raise money and awareness for Cystic Fibrosis - at CrossFit Council Bluffs. Since Rachel’s son - Tammy’s grandson - was born with Cystic Fibrosis, Tammy was all for it.
“I came to that, and I liked that,” she said.
Maybe a little surprised that the CrossFit workout appealed to her, Tammy started attending CFCB classes once a week while still frequenting her fitness classes at the YMCA. Eventually, Tammy joined CFCB full time, and now she is a staple at four classes per week.
In fact, at age 68, Tammy currently is the oldest CFCB member who participates in regular classes.
“I feel guilty if I don’t come,” she admitted. “It gets me going, even though it may take me an hour to recoup when I get home!”
Tammy has no qualms about scaling weights or movements.
“Weight-wise I don’t push it,” she said. “As long as I’m getting hot and sweaty, that’s all I care about.”
Tammy was born and raised in Council Bluffs, growing up off of North Broadway on Sylvan Drive. She attended the now-closed Gunn Elementary, Kirn Jr High and Abraham Lincoln High School, graduating with the Bicentennial class of 1976.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in interior design from the University of Northern Iowa, but quickly determined that career wasn’t for her. Tammy then graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a 2-year degree in architectural drafting. She settled into that career nicely, working for HGM in Council Bluffs for about 16 years, and then working for the City of Omaha Public Works Department until her retirement in 2017. For Omaha, she was a Drafting Tech Supervisor and drew up plans for replacing sewers and streets.
Tammy married Gary Jensen in 1991 and gained two stepsons - Jeremy and Jason. Tammy and Gary welcomed daughter Samantha just one day after their first wedding anniversary.
One activity Tammy and Gary enjoyed was taking their kids on dirt bike vacations. It was something Tammy did growing up with her family.
She and Gary also enjoyed riding their Harley-Davidson motorcycle together. They went to Sturgis several times, although Tammy said only one year did she ride all the way to South Dakota on the back of the bike.
Since Gary passed in 2007, though, Tammy has not ridden a motorcycle.
“I haven’t had the desire.”
Gary fought sarcoma - a soft tissue cancer - for four years, losing pieces of his lungs in each of four lung surgeries in that time span.
“He only had the top part of his lung left when he passed,” Tammy said, adding that Gary was only 56 years old.
Gary’s death started off a devastating decade for Tammy. After his death in 2007, Tammy’s dad passed away in 2012, her mom in 2014, and her stepson Jason in 2017. Tammy said every year the months from September to January are still rough, as they hold the death anniversaries and some birthdays of her loved ones.
“Those are tough months,” she said. “You are reminded of all the things they are missing.”
One such milestone is daughter Samantha’s upcoming wedding on Oct. 10, which would have been Gary’s 75th birthday. Samantha, who was just 15 years old when her father passed away, chose the wedding date in his honor.
“It will be hard, but it will be fun,” Tammy said.
Thinking of other milestones without her husband, her voice cracks.
“Gary would have been such a great grandpa.”
Tammy is “Grammy” to three grandchildren: Ruby, Jason and Heaven. It’s a role she has embraced.
Once she retired, Tammy started picking up the grandkids after school. She also trades off weeks with Michele Johnson - another grandma - and watches them during the summer.
“We try to do projects and bake,” Tammy said of entertaining the kids. “And they eat snacks. I swear they are bottomless pits!”
Tammy started crafting when Ruby was born.
“I thought it would be something fun to do,” she said. “I had received a sewing machine from my parents for graduation, but never really used it.”
Tammy started by making clothes for Ruby.
“It’s easier to make clothes for little girls than little boys,” she admitted.
Tammy sews them something every year for Christmas - like bath robes and pajamas. She has also made dolls and stuffed animals.
She doesn’t just reserve her crafting talents for the grandkids. For the last few years, she has been creating stuffed animals to sell at the annual CF4CF events. This year, she has adorable rhinos and goats in the signature Cystic Fibrosis purple for $30 each, with all proceeds going to the CF 4 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The stuffed toys will be available at this year’s CF4CF competition on Sept. 19, or you can contact Tammy and purchase them before the event.
While Tammy describes herself as a “homebody,” she keeps herself busy. She’s a member of Broadway United Methodist Church, and she volunteers at Jennie Edmundson Hospital Gift Shop a couple times a month. She likes to make homemade salsa and spaghetti sauce, something she started doing with Gary many years ago.
“I try to grow my own tomatoes, or sometimes I’m lucky enough for someone to give me some.”
She also attends the grandkids’ activities, which are currently dance, soccer and basketball.
At home, she spends time with her 6-year-old English Setter, Libby, and relaxes in front of televised football games. She especially enjoys watching the Kansas City Chiefs and regional college teams - Iowa, Iowa State and Nebraska. She has also become an Indiana Fever fan as she follows basketball phenom Caitlin Clark’s journey.
“I’m ready for those sports to start!”
Of course, she also stays busy with classes and activities at CFCB. She is quick to pitch in at special events, helping to set up or man the food tables. She can also be found in her regular front-row spot in class, next to the white board.
“As long as I can,” Tammy said of her CFCB attendance. “Hopefully it keeps me younger. I can do things with my grandkids.”
While Tammy is executing all the Olympic lifts with her CFCB classes, she can’t help but think of how her husband, Gary, would react.
“He would be shocked to see what I’m doing now,” she said.
Gary used to lift weights with a neighbor in the neighbor’s basement. But lifting weights was something Tammy never considered.
“I would have never, never imagined myself doing this,” Tammy said. “I was never into sports.”
Tammy is proof that it is never too late to start CrossFit. She was 59 at the first CF4CF event in 2018.
“You can scale everything,” she said. “All the coaches are really good about making sure you are safe. I’m sure all the people in the gym are watching, too, to make sure you are OK. I love the people here. Everyone is so encouraging. A lot of nice, nice people, and they always watch out for you.
“People worry about people watching them and making fun of them. I’ve never felt that way.”
Tammy said there have been times when she listened to her body and had to slow down during class.
“I’ve got to remember that I’m 20, 30, 40 years older than most of them,” she said. “I can’t do as much as they can.
“But I don’t feel 68, to be honest. I feel like I’m in my 40s.”
