Obituary of Gerda Lydia Jensen

Gerda Lydia Jensen, of Stamford CT, passed away quietly at home, from an illness, with her family members by her side. She was born January 17, 1929 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Lydia and Ferdinand Alexander Lemke. Gerda attended St. Luke's elementary school, Frieden's Jr High, and graduated with honor society and journalism honors from Mary Bradford (Kenosha High) High School. She was confirmed at 13 at Frieden's Lutheran Church. In 1949, she married Harold "Jim" Jensen, also from Kenosha. Together they had four children, Denene Jensen von Braun, Greenwich, Heidi Fielder Curtis, Waterbury, and Lisa Tienken, Clarendon Hills, IL. Their son, Randall Jensen, was killed in a hang gliding accident in 1979. Her ex-husband preceded her in death. She has five grandchildren: Emily, John and Nicholas Tienken, Mary Fielder, and Christina and Alexander von Braun. Her brother, Gerhard Lemke of Crivitz, Wisconsin also survives her. In 1981, Gerda graduated from UCONN with a BA, having taken night classes for eight years while working days. She excelled at a variety of professions including: phone operator, bank teller and loan officer, swimsuit model, marketing and communications manager for Dorr Oliver, and top producing real estate sales agent for William Pitt in Stamford. In 2012, Gerda retired from real estate. Gerda was a passionate and expert gardener and a member of the Shippan Garden Club. Because of her expertise with peonies, dahlias, amaryllis and clivia, Gerda was given the highest gardener award of " Honorary Member". She was a published author on raising chrysanthemums and at the time of her passing was working on two Kindle books, one on re-growing amaryllis bulbs and the other on growing peonies. She was an expert knitter, seamstress and gourmet cook and baker. She was passionate about music and adored going to opera at the Met. Throughout her life, Gerda was a scuba diver, tennis player, snorkeler, figure skater and skier. Known for her mantra of "collect experiences, not stuff," Gerda loved adventure, especially those with water and boats. At the young age of 80, she took her children and grandchildren on a white water rafting trip down the Snake River in the Pacific Northwest, camping and swimming along the way. A memorial service will be held on June 20 at 11 am at Zion Lutheran Church, Stamford followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made on behalf of her eldest granddaughter Emily Tienken to Misericordia Heart of Mercy 6300 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago IL60660. "One is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others." Gerda is forever loved by her family and friends. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.nutmegcremation.com Read Gerda Jensen's Obituary and Guestbook on nutmegcremation.com.