Nancy Jane Jensen

She was born in Limon, Colorado, 40 miles from her family’s Lincoln County homestead, on October 8, 1922. Nancy attended Pride of the Prairie, a one room schoolhouse, near the family homestead through her 5th grade year. In June 1933, she and her mother, Juditha, moved to Akron, Ohio to be with family and Nancy entered the 6th grade in a school with 2,000 students. This was quite a change from a one room school with 20 students, all in different grades. Each class at her new school was held in a different room, and art, music and dance were all new for the “Cowgirl” from the plains. Juditha and Nancy returned to Colorado in time for the second semester of 6th grade and going back to that little country school looked mighty good! In the second semester of her 9th grade year, the family moved to Hugo, Colorado where Nancy was baptized into the Methodist Church at Hugo on Easter Sunday – April 17, 1938. She graduated from Hugo High School in May 1940. Among her classmates was the one who was to become her husband. Nancy applied to nursing school but was too young and instead worked as a nurse’s aide in Colorado Springs. She had been accepted into the September 1941 class of students at St. Joseph School of Nursing in Denver, Colorado when her fianceé received notice from the draft board that he would be inducted into the Army Air Corps. Nancy Jane Murphy and Eugene “Gene” Jens Jensen were married August 2, 1941 in Raton, New Mexico. They did not announce their marriage because nursing students could not marry at that time. Nancy was dismissed from nursing school after the authorities were informed that she was married so she went to visit her husband who was scheduled to be shipped overseas. Gene’s unit went overseas without him, as he developed tonsillitis and required surgery. Nancy began attending the Seton School of Nursing in Colorado Springs, Colorado in April 1944. She became a Cadet Nurse out of Ft. Carson and the end of the war brought Nancy’s release from the corps, instead of being shipped to the South Pacific as she was scheduled to be. In October 1945 on her last day of nursing school, Gene came home on leave and after four years of being separated, they loaded their 1935 Dodge and headed for North Carolina, where he was stationed. They were only there for six weeks, as Gene was discharged on December 15, 1945. Nancy and Gene returned to Colorado and moved in with her parents in Hugo, where Gene began working as a mechanic in a local garage. Nancy gave birth to their only daughter, Karen Anne on July 25, 1946 in Colorado Springs. Nancy, Eugene and Karen moved from Hugo to the Denver area in April 1947 and the family purchased their permanent residence in Aurora, Colorado in September 1950.

Nancy’s long nursing career at St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver, Colorado, began in January 1948 and included General Duty, Surgical Nursing, Assistant Head Nurse, Clinical Instructor for Urology Services, Head Nurse of Central Service, Supervisor of Special Services and Associate Director of Nursing Services. Nancy retired from St. Luke’s on August 27, 1976. She was a Founder and past President of District 14 of the American Nurses Association and past President of the Part-Time and Non-Practicing Nurse Group in Aurora. Nancy’s passion for genealogy led her to become a charter member and past President of the Aurora Genealogical Society as well as a member of the Clay County Historical Society and the Kanawah Valley Genealogical Society, both in West Virginia. She enjoyed taking annual research trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, Nancy was an active member of the Peace Pipe Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, holding many offices including two terms as Regent. She was a member of the National Society of Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America, a member of The Mayflower Society and a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames – Captain Miles Standish Chapter. Nancy became a member of Park Hill United Methodist Church in Denver, Colorado on February 16, 1958 and then attended Windsor Gardens Church shortly after her move to the complex in October 2005. Following Gene’s retirement from Continental Airlines and Nancy’s retirement from St. Luke’s Hospital, they became active members of the Airstream Travel Trailer Club and the Continental Airlines Retired Mavericks Travel Club. They spent many happy years together traveling the country in their series of motor homes with their beloved dog, Klondike. Gene and Nancy were delighted to spend much of their time boating, fishing and camping with their family and friends.

Preceded in death by her husband Eugene Jens Jensen, father, Marion Monroe Murphy, mother Juditha “Holcomb” Murphy, sister Constance Elizabeth Murphy, brothers Philip Henry Murphy and Marion Maxwell Murphy and longtime friend and companion, Daniel Getz. She is survived by her daughter Karen Kennedy (Ronald) of Greenwood Village, CO; granddaughter Tara Lujan (Christopher) of Centennial, CO; grandson Timothy Kennedy (Jennifer) of Highlands Ranch, CO; great-grandchildren Mitchell, Georgia, Mason Lujan (Tara) and Ryan, Brandon, Matthew Kennedy (Timothy); many nieces, nephews and friends. The last few years of her life were enriched by the wonderful care given to her by Hope Lawrence and Jeanne Lee.

Nancy was a loving, resourceful, organized woman who left a legacy of values, faith and character. Her life’s work reflected her devoted, honest, dependable and selfless side while her personal life showcased her creative, fun-loving, independent spirit. She was truly honored and loved by her family and friends.

Attendance to the service is limited due to COVID restrictions and will be a private family service, so please RSVP by Thursday, August 6 to Karen via phone or email (303-694-7297 or [email protected]).

Masks are required

The Celebration of Life will be live streamed through Zoom on Saturday, August 8, 2020 at 11:00am MST. To view the service, please use the following link, meeting ID, and password.

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88540852046?pwd=dVRjVmxpS2U3TGFyTHlwOW1UV0xCZz09

Meeting ID: 885 4085 2046

Passcode: Jensen

Alternatively, you can listen to the service by calling in. Find your local number by using the following link and passcode.

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/keyLer4Wmk

Passcode: 574123

Viewing - Friday, August 7 from 5-7pm

Celebration of Life - Saturday, August 8 at 11:00 am

Graveside burial and reception to immediately follow the funeral service.

Nancy will be buried next to her husband, Eugene, at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary & Cemetery – 6601 S. Colorado Blvd., Centennial, CO 80121.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be gifted to a DAR scholarship fund for nursing students. Please make a check payable to 'Colorado State Society NSDAR' with 'Cameo club in honor of Nancy Jensen' in the memo line. This can be mailed to:

Janet Beiner

State Treasurer

1207 W. 111th Ave.

Northglenn, Co. 80234-6102