Shirley Lorraine Jensen

Shirley Lorraine Jensen, age 88, of Spring Park and formerly of Willmar, passed away Monday, December 18, after a brief illness. 

Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m. followed by her celebration of life service at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 23, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery.  A celebration of life will also take place at Lake Minnetonka Shores in Spring Park in the near future.  Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  ww.petersonbrothers.com.

Shirley Lorraine Jensen was born on January 25, 1935, to Pete and Lena Marcus.  Shirley grew up on the family farm near Prinsburg and enjoyed her farm life.  She was very active in 4H showing her Angus at the MN State Fair at the age of 15.  Shirley graduated from Clara City High School in 1952 where her Motto recorded in the year book was “Variety is the spice of life – don’t try one, try them all.”  And boy did she live out this Motto in her life to the fullest.  After graduation Shirley went off to the Twin Cities to work for the phone company.

On July 1, 1961, Shirley married Curtis "Curt" Jensen at the First Christian Reformed Church in Prinsburg.  Soon there after Curt and Shirley became founding members of the Willmar Christian Reformed Church, now Rock of Life.  They were very active members there, as Shirley taught Sunday school, Gems, and led a Friendship class. 

Curt and Shirley enjoyed more than 59 years of marriage.  They loved their life of travel to places like Hawaii, Nashville, Florida, and many other locations.  They also enjoyed plenty of time spent with their family at their cabin on Lake Florida.  Shirley loved baking and being outside gardening or sprucing up the yard.  Shirley spent many years as a daycare mother, loving and nurturing many small children.  In 1981, Shirley started to work for the Willmar Public Schools as the Offset Operator.  At this time, she also began to sell tickets for all of the Willmar High School Activities.  She loved doing this as she was able to meet so many people.  She was known around town as the “ticket lady.”  She retired from the school system in 1996 but continued to sell tickets into her 80s.

After Curt passed away on September 26, 2020, Shirley moved onto the lake at Lake Minnetonka Shores in Spring Park, MN. She enjoyed a full life there participating in bingo, art class, choir, church, and many festive parties, as well as boating and fishing on Lake Minnetonka.  She was sure not to miss one activity, it was tough for her family to keep up with her!  She enjoyed many friendships with residents and staff that became family to her.  Shirley loved life and lived it to the fullest.  She was someone that we all admired. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.  The family wishes to say a special thank you to Lake Minnetonka Shores for all the love and care they provided her. 

She is survived by two sons, Jeff (Jane) Jensen of Willmar and Dan (Julianne Amendola) Jensen of Phelps Island-Lake Minnetonka; one daughter, Sandi (Dave) VandenEinde of Independence and their two daughters, Emma and Abbie VandenEinde.  She is also survived by one brother, Carl (Shirley) Marcus of Willmar; and her brother-in-law, Bob Moore of Rapid City, South Dakota, besides many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Curt; her brother, Dale and his wife, Audrey; and her sister, Rachel Moore.