March 14, 1952 – August 26, 2018
Born in Seattle to George and Gerda Randolph, March 14, 1952 at Swedish Hospital, Karen was baptized by her grandfather, the Rev. H. George Randolph.
She attended school in the Highline School District through age 16 when the family moved to Port Ludlow (1968), then graduated from Chimacum High School in 1970 as valedictorian and was Port Townsend Rhododendron Princess.
She attended Pacific Lutheran University (National Merit Scholar) and earned a B.S. in Mathematics, graduating magna cum laude in 1973. She continued at Washington State University and earned her M.A. in mathematics in 1975.
Karen married Harold Jensen in 1974 at Grace Lutheran in Port Townsend and lived in Okanogan, Tukwila, Bothell, and Woodinville before returning to her family home in 1998. They had three children, Eric (Sara,) Gary (Melissa,) and Marit, and one granddaughter, Helena.
Karen returned to college and earned her teaching certificate in 1991 at University of Washington. Throughout her career she worked at the Harbormaster Restaurant in Port Ludlow, as a manager for Pacific Northwest Bell in plant and finance departments, as a math instructor at Bellevue Community College, home day-care provider and preschool teacher, elementary teacher in the Northshore School district, and elementary and junior high math teacher for Central Kitsap Schools.
More recently, she volunteered for the Chimacum elementary 3rd grade math tutoring program, for AARP in Chimacum as a tax aide, and with leadership and service projects at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and Peace Lutheran Fellowship, including Chimacum Backpacks for Kids, a weekend nutrition program. She loved writing, sewing, hiking, kayaking, and spending time with her husband and children.
Karen left this world on August 26th, at home surrounded by her family after a heroic fight with cancer.
We loved her creations, her baking, her wonderful memory, colorfully detailed stories, and exuberance for life. She was so very loved and will be tremendously missed as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.
A Celebration Memorial will be held October 13th, at the Port Ludlow Bay Club, 120 Spinnaker Place at 1:30 pm. Please wear color to celebrate Karen's life. In lieu of flowers please donate to chimacumbackpacksforkids.com
