JENS CASPERSEN


Jens Caspersen was born in Aahus, Denmark and came to America in 1928. He could not speak a word of English. Jens traveled from New York to Minnesota by train, and says he ate name and eggs at every meal because those words he understood. His uncle who lived in Bloomington helped Jens secure employment.

In the 30's he worked in the harvest fields of the Dakotas. He worked on local farms, cut wood and finally worked several years for Einar Hansen as a milk truck driver.

Jens started his own tavern business in Burnsville in 1938, and in 1948 purchased the Embassy from Frank Klingelhuts. He developed the Embassy into an outstanding restaurant and sold it in 1965.

Jens married Eleanor Christiansen in 1938, and has one daughter. He won't tell his age, and won't admit to retirement. He does admit to "running a string of about twenty boats at Lake Marion, to keep busy."

Jens Embassy Picture


...give me your tired,
your poor,
Your huddled masses,
yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of
your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless,
tempest tossed to me
I lift my lamp beside the
golden door!
Emma Lazarus