Janice D. Jensen

Janice D. Jensen, 78, of rural Council Grove, Kansas, died April 22, 2014 at Diversicare of Council Grove, where she had been a patient in recent weeks.

Janice Parker, the daughter of Dale and Opal Parker, was born March 3, 1936. She was reared in Ozawkie, Kansas.

She married Gary L. Jensen on Dec. 30, 1956, at Ozawkie. The couple moved to San Francisco, California, where Gary Jensen was stationed with the U.S. Navy.

Following his discharge, they returned to the Jensen family farm in north Lyon County. She taught home economics at Northern Heights High School for 24 years, after receiving a teaching degree from Kansas State Teachers College in 1974 . She retired from teaching in 1998.

She was a member of a Clint Bowyer fan club, OCBFCFG; the Jolly Janes, Eastern Star Marian Chapter 14, Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel, Emporia Area Retired School Personnel, the Council Grove chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an honorary organization for women educators; the American Legion Auxiliary, and the Silver Dolphins swim club at the Emporia Recreation Center.

Janice and Gary enjoyed dancing and traveling, fishing in Canada, and attending NASCAR races.

She is survived by her husband; two sons and daughters-in-law, Craig and Tammy Jensen of Scranton and Doug and Cindy Jensen of Council Grove;two grandchildren, Tyler Jensen and Jodi Jensen of Council Grove; a brother-in-law, Glenn Smith of Rocklin, California; cousins, Gary and Janice Parker of Moran and Chris Parker of Ozawkie; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister-in-law, Phyllis Smith, and a cousin, Bill Parker.

Cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Monday, April 28, 2014at Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia. The memorial service will be at 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, April 29, 2014at the funeral home, conducted by Pastor Bert Tegtmeier of Messiah Lutheran Church, Emporia. Burial will be held later at Sunnyside Cemetery near Americus .

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Silver Dolphins water fitness at the Lee Beran Emporia Recreation Center, the 79 Fund, or Hand-in-Hand Hospice. Donations may be sent in care of the funeral home.