Born on October 2nd, 1934 in Spindanger, Norway, Kirsten was raised in a Christian home by her parents, Ingvald and Esther Simonsen, alongside her brother, Per Simonsen, and sister, Ida Marie Ermann. After surviving Nazi invasion into her country and home, she and Per traveled by ship across the ocean entering New York Harbor, reuniting with her parents in the States in 1949.
Kirsten studied diligently, mastering the English language, and graduated from East Orange High School in 1954. She grew to love God and teach His Word. In 1958, Kirsten married Torbjorn Thuen, residing in both Northern New Jersey and Southwest Florida for 67 precious years of marriage. Her life spent with Torbjorn was full of love, traveling the world, raising their four children, and enjoying her role as Nana.
Kirsten is survived by her husband, Torbjorn; her children, Arnt Thuen, Lillian Grossi, Douglas Thuen, and Diane Jacob and their spouses; her sister, Ida Marie Ermann; her 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
A visitation for Kirsten will be held from 5 pm to 7 pm on Monday, July 21, 2025, at Sparta Evangelical Free Church, 385 Houses Corner Rd, Sparta, NJ 07871, followed by a funeral service at 7 pm. Kirsten will be laid to rest privately in Succasunna Presbyterian Cemetery, Succasunna, NJ.
Contributions in Kirsten's memory may be made to Sparta Evangelical Free Church, 429 Lafayette Rd, Sparta, NJ 07871, https://spartaefc.org/give or Market Street Mission, https://www.marketstreet.org/donate/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=preheader.
