Fern E. Jensen

Our beloved aunt, Fern Elizabeth Jensen, 98, of St. Joseph, passed away on Monday, March 19, 2012 at Orchard Grove Extended Care Center, Benton Harbor. Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, March 25, 2012 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, where the Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 26, 2012, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph, officiated by Father Alphonse Savarimuthu. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Friends may send a condolence to the guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com Fern was born on February 11, 1914 in Lake Township, MI to Frank & Pearl (Johns) Bullock. She married Wesley Peter Jensen on May 1, 1948 in St. Joseph. They were lifetime residents of St. Joseph and spent many happy hours with family and friends at home or at their cottage on Big Bass Lake in Irons, MI. Fern attended St. Joseph Catholic School in St. St. Joseph and was a proud member of its first graduating class. She was a faithful lifetime member of St. Joseph Catholic Church; volunteering to tabulate weekly collections, at young hearts, and food for crisis. She also volunteered at Birthright. Fern started her working career at age 14, at an ice cream stand on the bluff in St. Joseph. She also worked at Murphy’s Dime Store. She spent the remainder of her career as a bookkeeper for the Knaack Insurance Agency, retiring after 41 years of service. Fern was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister, Ella Krause, special first cousins, Shirley Maxfield and Gracia Nicholson and many sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws. Fern is survived by many nieces and nephews, Herb , Roger, and Craig Jensen, Jenine (Harry) Bischoff, Marilyn (Doug) Gregory, Thomas (Mary Lou) Miller, Carolyn (Ken) Crook, eight great-nieces and nephews, twelve great-great nieces and nephews, and special first cousins Margie (Dick) Dornbos, Allen (Karen) Johns, Joseph (Fran) Johns, and Robert (Carol) Pitt. Fern had a great love for her faith and her family. She was a family caregiver. She cared for her elderly mother for many years and she helped care for her husband and sister in their final illness. She was always aware and concerned about the welfare of the younger nieces and nephews. Fern has passed from life to life and now rests securely in the arms of her heavenly Father. She has rejoined her beloved family for eternity.