Barry L. Jensen

MADISON - One of the more than 540 doors of Valhalla has opened for Barry's arrival. He sees the splendid palace where the rafters are spears, the hall is roofed with discarded shields and the waiting benches are littered with breastplates. The magnificent wolf that guards the western door and the majestic eagle that hovers overhead have welcomed him home. This beloved son, husband, dad, papa, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, friend, neighbor and colleague is now a warrior in Viking heaven having lived a fulfilled 83 years on earth.

Barry battled a congenital heart defect, childhood rheumatic fever, diabetes, neurosarcoidosis, melanoma, trigeminal neuralgia, an aortic valve replacement, acute pericarditis and plural effusion. He just couldn't defeat multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that develops in the plasma cells of the bone marrow and leaves moth-like lesions on the bones. Diagnosed on July 13, 2026, he passed on August 4, 2026.

Born on June 4, 1943, in Medford, Wis., Barry was the first of four children welcomed by Frederick and Mary (Rickaby) Jensen. He began his education in a one-room schoolhouse and went on to graduate from Medford High School in 1961. He earned his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1966.

A whiz with numbers, Barry worked for the State of Wisconsin as an accountant and budget analyst with the Departments of Transportation, Health and Social Services and Corrections. He retired in 2007 after over 40 years of public service.

Barry married his best friend and confidante, Janet (Dicks) Jensen on April 14, 1973. Together they raised two children. He always said that his greatest accomplishment in life was raising both of his children to be kind, compassionate, thoughtful, educated, independent, successful, but, most important, happy. He succeeded.

Barry enjoyed traveling, genealogy, reading, jigsaw and sudoku puzzles, everything baseball and time spent with family and friends. His fondest memories were of exploring his Scandinavian heritage in Denmark, Norway and Iceland. He relished everything Viking.

Barry was an easy-going, soft-spoken, man-of-few-words whose presence was enriching to all who knew him. He will be remembered as a patient, supportive and loving dad and a wonderfully imperfect husband who made his wife belly laugh every single day. His greatest joy was any gathering with his children and grandchildren and hosting Sibling Saturdays. He was happiest sitting behind home plate or on the halfway line for his grandchildren's baseball and softball games or soccer matches.

He will be missed by his wife of 53 years, Jan; his daughter, Jennifer (Kevin) Brau of Kansasville, Wis.; son, Jedediah (Melissa) Jensen of Burlington, Wis.; grandchildren, Kevin, Maren and Larah Brau and Emersyn and Maevyn Jensen; brothers, Loren and Martin (Nicolette) Jensen; sister, Kristin (Gregory) Reischl; sisters-in-law, Sandra (Douglas) Clement and Jacqueline Dicks; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and sister-in-law, Cathie Jensen.

Cremation has taken place. Honoring Barry's wishes, there will be no funeral or celebration of life.

The family sincerely thanks the supportive nurses and aides at Oak Park Place for their considerate assistance during Barry's final days, especially Rujena and CiCi. The family would also like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the Sandhill Team of Agrace HospiceCare, especially Alison and Amber, for the compassionate care and comfort they provided Barry on his last journey.

Barry's favorite TV show was NCIS. He never missed an episode. The poem "Epitaph" by Merrit Malloy is featured in Season 18, Episode 9 of NCIS, titled "Winter Chill" (which aired on March 9, 2021):

Epitaph by Merrit Malloy

When I die

Give what's left of me

To children

And old men that wait to die.

And if you need to cry,

Cry for your brother

Walking the street beside you.

And when you need me,

Put your arms

Around anyone

And give them

What you need to give me.

I want to leave you something,

Something better

Than words

Or sounds.

Look for me

In the people I've known

Or loved,

And if you cannot give me away,

At least let me live on in your eyes

And not your mind.

You can love me most

By letting

Hands touch hands,

By letting bodies touch bodies,

And by letting go

Of children

That need to be free.

Love doesn't die,

People do.

So when all that's left of me

Is love,

Give me away.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420