Marlene Lucille Jensen
Monday, October 21, 1946
Date of Death:
Monday, November 1, 2021
Age:
75 years old
Monday, October 21, 1946
Date of Death:
Monday, November 1, 2021
Age:
75 years old
Monday, October 21, 1946
Date of Death:
Monday, November 1, 2021
Age:
75 years old
Marlene Lucille Jensen
Marlene Lucille Barrett Jensen 75, died Monday November 1, 2021 at Seasons Hospice. Marlene was born October 21, 1946 to Merlin and Lucille (Rees) Barrett. She was baptized at the Methodist Church in Audubon. She was raised on a farm near Ross Iowa until her parents bought a farm in Melville township. She attended a one room school until school consolidation brought her to Audubon in 6th grade (again a one room school building on the school grounds). She graduated from the new High School at Audubon Public Schools with the class of 1965, a class that was the largest after World War II ended.
When her parents bought their farm she traveled on a school bus with others in the area including a Ron Jensen who lived a couple of miles away. He enjoyed talking with her and over time it became a high school romance even after Ron graduated and went to Iowa State University. The high school sweethearts married on June 4th 1965 in Onawa Iowa. She then worked at Central National Bank in Des Moines at nights supporting the family.
When Ron graduated they moved to the Mid-Hudson Valley in New York to work for IBM. This was quite a change for two farm kids and lead to a whole new culture and environment but it was a start to her love of travel. They were able to visit New York City and numerous historic sites in the area.
Marlene and Ron had a stillborn daughter named Angela and then later two sons Joel and Ryan. Both sons were born at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie.
In 1975, they transferred to the IBM Rochester location to be closer to family in Iowa. Marlene was the homemaker who raised the family and became a really good cook, craft person and volunteer. When her the sons were grown, she took a one-year job as an ESL (English as a Second Language) paraprofessional to help Southeast Asian immigrants learn to read. She partnered with a teacher also named Marlene and the two of them helped numerous students learn to read in English. Marlene was rewarded when those students succeeded and especially when she was recognized by one of her past students. When Ron asked her who she was going to spend her time with in the next year (school children or Ron) she retired after 23 rewarding year. Their sons had graduated from college by this time and had children and Marlene liked traveling to Iowa, Missouri, Michigan Colorado, Wisconsin and Colorado again to spend time with family.
Marlene and Ron had the opportunity to travel around the country (only missed two states) and traveled in North America, Central America, Europe, the middle East and India, Sri Lanka, Australia and New Zealand. She loved the cultures and people and always came home with new friends and foods. Her favorite trip was to Denmark in 2013 with family (started at 9 and grew to 24) where the family saw where some of their ancestry came from.
Marlene loved her church- Bethel. She enjoyed volunteering, watching PBS, and reading. Her favorite event was the Christmas Tea where up to 30 tables were decorated with a Christmas theme. She really enjoyed the event planning and preparation as well as attending the event. She was determined that it would survive the restrictions due to the pandemic and in 2020 actually raised more money than the in-person tea had in the past.
Marlene loved family, she loved kids and teaching, she loved her holidays especially Thanksgiving and Christmas with lots of great food and family gatherings.
She had a very nice way of connecting to people and making friends with family, neighbors, or around the world. Her family and friends will miss her smile, her stories and her food.
Marlene is survived by her husband Ron; sons Joel (Christy) and Ryan (Cara); grandchildren Emily, Lily, and Dane; sister, Jo Albertsen; brother-in-law, Steven Jensen; sister-in-law, Barb Hamilton; nieces, Jade, Amanda, Morgan Barrett, Shawn Barrett; Nephews, Bill Jensen, Rees Barrett, Taylor Barrett, and Tucker Barrett. She was preceded in death by her daughter, parents and three brothers Jerry, Earl and Cleo.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 5, 2021 at Bethel Lutheran Church (810 3rd Ave SE, Rochester, MN) with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon, IA at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 6th followed by a luncheon at the Parish Hall in Audubon.
Memorials in Rochester are preferred to the Bethel Christmas Tea Committee.
Condolences
The family of Marlene Lucille Jensen has received the following condolences.
Dear Ron and family,
Jack and I are heart broken to just now read the past Post Bulletins and learn of Marlene’s death. We had no idea she was ill and I am so sad. She was always one of my favorite people and her obit captured her spirit beautifully.......we had so much fun working together in our early volunteer days. I will treasure those times. And I know she is leading craft classes for the rest of the angels.
We moved away 12 years ago and just lost touch with everyone.
We live in Tucson or up in northern MN and get to Rochester only when Jack is needing his Mayo doctors.
please accept our condolences, sincerely,
Linda and Jack Van Straaten
I knew Marlene through her travels with Ron in his many IEEE volunteer roles. A wonderful woman and inseparable companion; my mental picture will always be of them together. My heart goes out to Ron and my condolences to the Jensen family on your loss.
Dear Ron, My heartfelt condolences on the loss of your wife. I hope all the good memories you had together may bring you comfort in these hard times. The special people in our lives are never gone; they live forever in our hearts. My heart and prayers go out to you and your family.
Ron,
My deepest sympathy on loss of Marlene. She was a beautiful soul, always had a smile and a friendly hello whenever I saw her at the condo. You and your family are in my prayers.
God Bless,
Jodi Tollefson
Dear Ron,
I would like to express my condolences on the loss of Marlene. I had meals with her during the IEEE Meeting Series, MGA dinners and Panama Retreat. She was always well-loved among us and she will be missed.
Again, I extend our deepest sympathies to you and your family during this period of mourning.
Sincerely,
Kukjin
Dear Ron,
I would like to express my condolences on the loss of Marlene. I had meals with her during the IEEE Meeting Series, MGA dinners and Panama Retreat. She was always well-loved among us and she will be missed.
Again, I extend our deepest sympathies to you and your family during this period of mourning.
Sincerely,
Kukjin
To the Jensen family my deepest condolences to you may the God of all comfort and peace be with you in this time of loss. Tiffany's mom
Dear Ron and Family,
I am deeply saddened to learn of Marlene’s passing. To lose a wife and mother is heartbreaking. May you find comfort in what God has said, that “the Lord is near to the broken-hearted” and is “full of kind compassion”. We woodcarvers grieve with you even as you celebrate Marlene’s life and give thanks for the years you had her on earth.
Blessings,
Randy
Ron,
Unsure of what I can even say to help, but I hope you remember and cherish all those wonderful memories you had with Marlene! I always admired how you both respected and cared for each other so much.
Sometimes you just meet a person who has a tremendous positive impact on your life. And Marlene was one of those people for me. She was so positive and warm and I really looked up to her. Even if we saw each other after a while, we always picked up where we last left off. I will always remember how she welcomed me with open arms and said she thought of me as a daughter. She was just such a lovely person and will be so deeply missed. IEEE will never be same without her.
Sending you so much love, lots of prayers and hugs.
Aisha Yousuf
Dear Ron:
There are no words that can help in moments like this. But I am sure that all the good memories from the time Marlene and you were together, as well as the great family you both rose, will be of some relief in this sad goodbye. Mari Carmen and I were very lucky to have met Marlene. Every IEEE meeting we coincided, it was a pleasure to see her, say hello, chat a little bit, and catch up about our families, and we will forever keep in our hearts the big smile she always had.
Ron, our sympathies and a very big hug for you, your children and grandchildren
Francisco and Mari Carmen Martinez
We will surely miss Marlene’s smile and laugh. She was so fun to be around. She had a great sense of humor. She had so many memories and much knowledge of our family that she shared.
We have lost a lovely soul!
Thankyou Marlene for wonderful memories that we will treasure forever. You have been a reminder of great fun every time your picture rolls up on our computer. You and Ron have been a true example of goodness to us. We appreciate the IEEE for bringing us together. We had fun together. We also know through our faith that together we can again share great memories of this life. Ron, Marlene was on of the most kind, caring and loving person that Dixie has ever known. You were so lucky to have this angel as you wife and companion. She has earned a great reward in Heaven for the good she has accomplished on this earth. She will truly be missed by us and by everyone whos lives she has touched. God bless you Ron, our prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time, Dixie and Cleon
Please accept my sincere condolences over the passing of your wife, Marlene.
May God be with you.
Please accept my sincere condolences over the passing of your wife, Marlene.
May God be with you.
Dear Ron, it was a shock to hear about Marlene. We are with you and your family in this moment of loss.
Dear Marlene, will definitely miss you. Prayers for you and your family
Ron, sorry for your loss. Prayers on the way, my friend.
Ron,
I was devastated to hear of Marlene’s passing. She was a wonderful advocate for all of us ieee volunteers and empowered everyone who knew her. I am so sorry for your loss.
My prayers are with you and your family now and always,
Karen Panetta
Ron,
You and Marlene have had quite a journey. So sorry it had to end.
Bev and Chuck
Ron…I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family.
I am so sorry for your loss and will keep you and your family in my prayers for years y to come.
Ron, Our most sincere and heartfelt condolences. Marlene was a lovely woman.
Donna and Doug
Ron, Joel, Ryan and Families-
we are so very so very sorry to hear about Marlene! She was loved by so many!! We alway loved hearing about your trips!! Our thoughts a d Prayers are with you!! ❤️❤️
Ron and family, my sincere thoughts and prayers are given for the passing of Marlene. I am so very sorry you have suffered this loss. May God be with you.
Ron and family,
So sorry to hear of the passing of your beloved Marlene. She was an amazing, beautiful person and will be missed by all she touched.
Hugs,
Elizabeth (Liz Colvin) Schimdt