Joseph Warren Jensen, of Bella Vista, passed away on May 8, 2026. He was born on June 8, 1943, in California to Lester and Ila Jensen. He had one older brother, James. His family moved to Ozark, MO, where he attended Ozark High School, graduating in 1960. Joe then attended Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, MO where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in fine arts.

Joe worked for many years as a respected architect with the firm Pellham-Phillips-Hagerman in Springfield, MO before his retirement. He contributed to a variety of local projects in Springfield, Branson and Southwest Missouri over the years, as well as numerous national projects. Joe also enjoyed buying residential properties and remodeling them himself into beautiful homes.

Joe was also an accomplished artist. As a young man in the 1960's, he worked at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO as a woodcarver. He was also an expert photographer; jewelry maker and he produced beautiful hand-thrown pottery.

Joe enjoyed collecting antiques to furnish his home, Native American artifacts and First Flight historical mail pieces. He had a life-long love of nature and the outdoors, including hiking, camping and river float trips. He also enjoyed traveling, visiting destinations all over the United States as well as the world. Some of his trips included Australia, New Zealand, Europe and China.

He was a private man who enjoyed a simple life filled with nature, art, history and music. He will be remembered fondly by all those whose lives he touched.

He was preceded in death a few years ago by current wife, Patricia Owens.

He is survived by one daughter, Belinda Wood, by his first wife, Pamela Day Jensen (deceased); one grandchild, James; and two nephews.