Charlotte Kay Jensen, age 75 of Pennock formerly of Corrales, NM, passed away Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Prairie Senior Cottages in Hutchinson. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 2 at The First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake, New London. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at a later date in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Lucan. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Charlotte Kay Jensen was born October 16, 1942 to her parents, Milton William Jensen and LaVon Katherine Grams, at Lucan, Minnesota. Her Grandmother Carrie Jensen was the mid-wife. While growing up in Lucan, Ms. Jensen was very active in Trinity Lutheran Church and taught Sunday school, held offices in Luther League, sang in the choir and was church organist for two years while in high school. She attended first through eighth grade school at Lucan Public School. She graduated from Milroy Public High School in 1960. She attended Augsburg College, the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from St. Cloud State University in 1965. She taught first grade in Belgrade, Minnesota in 1965 before moving to San Clemente, California where she taught first grade for two years. Seattle, Washington was her next stop where she taught first grade for one year. She moved back to California for one more year of teaching before taking a four month tour of Europe. After returning from Europe, she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where she lived and taught for 14 years. During that time, she earned her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her last three years in Las Vegas were spent as a Reading Specialist with Clark County School District. During the last several years in Nevada, she had occasionally thought how wonderful it would be to teach at the university level. Her dream came true when she moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1984 to pursue her doctorate at the University of New Mexico. She earned her degree in 1988. Dr. Jensen taught at the University of New Mexico and New Mexico Highlands University. She retired in 2007 after 42 years in education. Dr. Jensen liked to travel and she visited many interesting places. Iceland, Europe, Mexico, Canada, and many tours in the United States left her with many fond memories. She was very fond of dogs. After she retired, she became a member of Pet Therapy and the Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She and her dogs spent many happy hours visiting hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. She always said the patients brought her so much joy and her dogs brought much enjoyment to the patients and caregivers.
Dr. Jensen’s brother, Dr. Roger Jensen (38) and sister-in-law Marlys Jensen preceded her in death in 1976. Her father died in 1987 at the age of 77 and her mother in 2003 at the age of 92. She is survived by beloved cousins, Godchild Alexis Jensen, special friend Annie Hoskin, her faithful companion Murphy, who never left her side, and many kind and true friends.
I met Charlotte soon after she moved across the street from us in Corrales NM. We discovered common interests in gardening, politics, education and baking cookies:) We shared many happy times together and especially enjoyed trying new places to have lunch, usually every couple of months. During those lunches we laughed hysterically, often bringing us to tears. Charlotte had a great sense of humor! I am so sad that Charlotte is no longer with us – to teach us, befriend us and make us laugh.
I am so sorry to hear of Charlotte’s passing. The only time I knew Charlotte, was as my professor at the Univ. of New Mexico about 18 years ago…for only one semester and for only one class! There are quite a few things that she did and said in that class that I still think about, I really enjoyed her class. For some reason, the word “cacophony” came out of that class, I think she liked that word;) At the end of the semester, she invited the class to her home for lunch…I thought that was just the best thing! I live in Rio Rancho and frequently drive by her home on my way into Corrales…every time I have done so over the years, I have thought about her. She certainly made a lifelong impression on me and I spent so little time with her. Prayers to Charlotte’s family and friends during this difficult time.
Charlotte was a dear friend of mine……..She was a classmate and true friend even though we were apart for so many years after graduation from High School in Milroy MN. We also always laughed hysterically from our conversations especially from when she came back to MN a couple of years ago!! I was so happy to have her back in MN but our time was cut short and I so appreciate the times we did get together. I know she is in a beautiful happy place now with Mom, Dad and her dear brother and sister in law…….May God bless her family and friends. Love you Char!!!
I, too, knew Dr. Jensen for one semester at Highlands University. She opened our eyes to great teaching, inspired us to be not just great educators but caring human beings. She loved introducing us to new vocabulary. I think sycophant was one of the words that semester! She stood out among her colleagues and I have such fond memories of her. My thoughts are prayers are with you and your family.
Ray and Alice Thull extend our deepest sympathies to the Jensen family. We have been long time friends of Milton and LaVon Jensen and Charlotte. Milton and Lavon Jensen lived across the street from Alice’s parents, Nick and Mary Kramer. We often met with Charlotte when she came to Lucan to visit her parents. Charlotte and her parents were interested in preserving the history of the community of Lucan. In Charlotte’s honor a donation will be made to the Lucan Historical Society.
I taught with Charlotte during her last years in Clark County, Nevada. She had a great gift of teaching struggling learners. She knew how to engage them, make them feel important, and have fun learning. She helped me learn how to have fun teaching. Every day was a new adventure with Charlotte! Outside of school she was a fun, genuine, and loyal friend.
Our world has lost a treasure.
I wish to express my sympathy to the family. My late husband, David Gehrke was Charlotte’s cousin. I was very surprised to hear she had passed away. I winter in Arizona now and just learned she had passed away. Again, my
sympathy to all the family.
Nell Gehrke
Charlotte and Annie have been dear friends for decades. I was teaching in Robert Taylor Elementary when Charlotte came to Henderson, Nevada. We spent wonderful times together in and out of school and later over the phone. We went to cat shows, dieted manically and rejoiced when our lessons went well. We got lost in parking lots, shopped till morning and most of all laughed hysterically. Good times and a few hard times but ALL the time everyone loved Charlotte. I miss her.
It is July 2020, and I just learned of Charlotte’s death. I knew her in the early 80’s at UNM as an agent of change and advocate for children’s literacy. She was a caring and trustworthy colleague. You could always rely on Charlotte to bring sunshine on a cloudy day in the office. Rest in peace Charlotte.