Karla Trinke Jensen

FITCHBURG-Karla T Jensen, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and mentor left us on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019. Karla was strong of will, strong of heart, and strong of mind and all those who had the great fortune to know this remarkable woman have described her as loyal, generous, intelligent, gregarious, talented, strong, loving, and wise. She will be missed. Daughter to William F. Trinke and Altha (Hooker) Trinke, Karla was born in Milwaukee, WI in May of 1932. A few years later, her family moved to Madison where both her father and she started school together – William was accepted to University Of Wisconsin (UW) Law School and Karla started her life-long pursuit of knowledge at the UW Nursery School. After her father received his law degree, their family moved back to Lake Geneva, WI where he set up his successful law practice. They bought, fixed up, and sold 14 houses in 12 years. Karla had a great childhood there (despite the 14 moves) spending much of her time on or in the lake. She graduated from Lake Geneva High School in 1949 (a year early) moved to Madison enrolled in UW, joined a sorority and earned her B.S. in Education at the UW. Karla is survived by Dr. Orley Jensen O.D., her devoted and loving husband of 55 years. They were married in Lake Geneva, WI January of 1963 thereby uniting two families and six children; Lorie, Klare, Trinke, Rob, Morley and John all of whom survive Karla. They raised their children after moving to Madison, WI in 1963. Always on the move, Karla and Orley lived in 5 different homes in the Madison area. They traveled all around the world together exploring Kenya (on a safari), Japan, China, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Mexico, and many others. They also enjoyed many cruises, and trips to Mexico, Carribean Islands with friends and family. Her favorite two books were the dictionary (mostly for Scrabble) and the World Atlas. Both are in tatters from constant use. Karla was very active in the performing arts. She had the privilege to act in a play with Paul Newman at the Belfrey Theater in Williams Bay when he was the leading resident actor. Karla made her many life-long friends through her 30-year involvement with Madison Theater Guild, Madison Repertory Theater, Madison Opera, Madison Symphony Chorus, Madison Symphony Singers. Her joy for music and singing permeated all aspects of her life from being a den mother for a Madison Girl Scout troop singing around campfires to having family and friends around their grand piano at parties and holidays to sing carols and party-songs. Karla and Orley greatly enjoyed their many friends at Madison Elks Club and went to dinner there with friends every week. Memorials in Karla’s name may be gifted to one of the following: Madison Elks Lodge, #410 Geneva Lake Museum, in Lake Geneva, WI Madison Opera Gunderson Fitchburg Funeral & Cremation Care 2950 Chapel Valley Road (608) 442-5002