Marlys Jean Jensen Obituary (1941 - 2011)

Marlys Jean Jensen, age 69, of Menomonie, WI passed away peacefully on January 9, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN surrounded by her family. She was born May 22, 1941 in Dunn County to George and Orpha Skillings. Marlys attended school in Durand and graduated in 1959. She married Robert R. Jensen on October 15, 1960 at Little Elk Creek Church. They were blessed with fifty years of marriage, four children, and ten grandchildren. Marlys held several positions in Menomonie but her main vocation was homemaking, farming, and attending to the needs of her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her husband Robert. Sons - Kevin (Kathleen) Jensen, Kelly (Kim) Jensen, and Travis (Kelly) Jensen. Daughter - Tracie (Brian) Knospe. Grandchildren: Hannah and Garrett Jensen, Trevin, Justin, and Karisa Jensen, Jordan Harp-Jensen and Jonah Jensen, Klara, Karlen, and Kali Knospe. Brothers - Don (Dorthy) Skillings, Dale (Kathie) Skillings, Dan (Marg) Skillings. Sisters - Irene Cotts, Wanda Mortel, and Lorraine Cotts. Brother in law - Harold (Bea) Jensen. Sister in law - Sylvia Grutt and many numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Orpha Skillings, one brother, Delvin Skillings and several other relatives. Visitation will be held on January 12, 2011 from 4 to 8 pm at Olson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am at New Hope Lutheran Church in Downsville on January 13, 2011 with Pastor Steve Carlson officiating. Friends and Family are welcome one hour prior to service at the church on Thursday. Burial will take place at St. John's Cemetery, twp. of Menomonie, Dunn Co. Marlys Jean (Skillings) Jensen Written by Robert Jensen at 12:30 am on 1-10-2011 I met Marlys at the roller skating rink. We went skating a lot for several years. When we went we would skate steady all night without sitting down. We also took many snowmobile rides with neighbors and friends and the temperature outside did not stop us. We also went on four wheeler rides. I belonged to the National Guard. After we were married about a year I got called to active duty in Fort Lewis, Washington. We made many trips to the highest mountains around and also to the ocean. Kevin, our oldest son was born out there. Before we left for Washington I had started to build a new home for her - I finished it when we returned home. Marlys always cut my hair. She said "Come on Bob, its either a hair cut or a dog tag. I didn't like the sound of sleeping outside so I took the haircut. Marlys loved animals all through the years. She would ride a horse any chance she could get. The big event each summer was the Dunn County Fair. She helped with getting the animals clipped and washed - they would need to be clean or they would be left home. Marlys helped in the fields every year putting crops in. She always liked to drive the biggest tractor we had. She baled hay and straw in the earlier years for me too. She loved to cut lawn. At times the grass just couldn't grow fast enough. She loved to plant a big garden each year. She canned many fruits and vegetables including over 100 quarts of pickles this year. Marlys picked lots of strawberries and raspberries to share with her family. She made a lot of apple bars from the apple trees in the backyard too. She has her garden all ready for this next year. Marlys loved to sew. She would take a trip to Eau Claire to get material and then would spend two days cutting the quilt material into little pieces, then spent several days sewing it back together again. I told her it would be faster to sew the big pieces together. Quilting wasn't her only expertise. She sewed clothes for her children and grandchildren plus made many clothing alterations for them. Marlys made many trips to Eau Claire with her daughter. They would shop all day, find the best deals, and turn around and do it all over again the next day. Marlys was sick very little over the years. I was always the one with some kind of illness, she helped me get through some life threatening operations several times. In the later years the grandchildren were her pride and joy. She loved attending softball, football and basketball games and numerous school activities. She was at a basketball game when her illness took her. She took care of the little ones several times. "Just bring them over, I will take care of them" she would say. Marlys was always ready to lend a helping hand. Marlys had always kind of wanted to fly in an airplane but was too scared to do so. The other day she had no choice. She was airlifted to Rochester to try and save her life. Ironically they flew right over the farm. We had a wonderful chaplain lady who prayed with us in Rochester. She told us that Marlys would be planting her garden in heaven this next year and how beautiful it will be. There won't even be weeds to fight with. Marlys died due to severe brain hemorrhage that destroyed the brain stem. Marlys will be laid to rest just a few feet from our land that she tilled many times.