Afton Jensen-Kern

Funeral information

Home: Napa, CA Place of Birth: Salt Lake City, UT
Date of Death: February 26, 2010 Birthdate: January 1, 1929
Age: 81

Service information: Monday, March 01, 2010 11:00 AM Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, Napa, CA

Visitation: Sunday, February 28, 2010 at Tulocay Funeral Home, Napa, CA; Monday, March 01, 2010 at Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, Napa, CA

Interment: Tulocay Cemetery, Napa, CA

Biography

AFTON LORENE JENSEN-KERN
1929-2010

On Friday, Feb. 26, 2010, Afton L. Jensen Kern, 81, passed away surrounded by her five children and husband at the Kaiser Hospital in Sacramento, California. She was born Jan. 1, 1929 to Joseph Linnell and Ada Afton Harper in Salt Lake City, Utah. She married Dr. Jack Marius Jensen, DDS, in Salt Lake City on Aug. 24, 1948. He preceded her in death on July 15, 1991. She married Russell Lee Kern March 17, 2007 in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Afton was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served multiple missions for the church, teaching on a Navajo reservation in Arizona and working at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. She taught early morning seminary for 21 years and was a beloved elementary school teacher in San Francisco, Napa and Mexico, receiving honorary awards and a lifetime certificate. A longtime teacher of adult education in Napa, Afton received the Teacher of the Year Award in 2001. She volunteered with humanitarian expeditions to Ghana and Saint Kitts, participated with Habitat for Humanity in Mississippi, and frequently volunteered in local schools. She was a member of the Dental Wives Auxiliary and other organizations. Her interests included continuing education, caring for her grandchildren, extended family members and others, entertaining family and friends, traveling extensively (including a trip to Antarctica), genealogy, scouting, camping, dancing, playing bocce ball, and writing poetry.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Keith & Nan Jensen (Ohio), Corinne & Eric Nelson (Maryland), Lynnette & Rick Jones (Mexico), Janeen & Doug Kelley (Washington), Mike & Cheryl Jensen (California), 24 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her husband, Russell Kern, and her seven stepchildren and their spouses: Carl & Cheryl Wouden, Gary & Cami Kern, Doug & Sue Kern, Monte & Janene Priebe, Ted & Maralee Sleight, David & Kristen Marble, 26 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A viewing will take place between 6:00 and 9:00 pm on Sunday, Feb. 28 at the Tulocay Funeral Home on Coombsville Road. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 1 at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at the corner of Dry Creek Road and Trower Avenue in Napa. The service will be preceded by a viewing at the church between 9:30 and 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Perpetual Education Fund (3 Hazelwood Drive, Napa, California 94558), which supports postsecondary education grants in developing countries, to honor Afton's lifelong commitment to education and service. Share your memories and words of sympathy with the family on-line at WWW.TULOCAYCEMETERY.ORG.





Dixie Wilkerson Finley February 28, 2010
Sister Jensen was my seminary teacher my senior year of high school, 1979-80. Although I had 3 other wonderful seminary teachers, she was my favorite and the only one I kept in touch with over the last 30 years. Sister Jensen was more than a teacher to me she was an inspiration. She had so much faith of who I was and who I could become, she inspired me to be a better person, and a more faithful follower of Christ. She touched my soul in a way that affects the way I live today. I will always treasure that gift. I am sure that my 3 other seminary teachers were so happy when the school year ended and I and maybe a couple of my peers moved on to the next year of seminary! I was very sad to leave the warmth and love I felt everyday in Sister Jensen's class. And my heart aches knowing I won't be able to see this wonderful woman in this life again. Just a quick story I would like to share... She asked me to speak at Seminary Graduation which I felt was a honor that she asked me. I prepared my talk and asked her to review it and she asked me to delete the comments about what an amazing teacher she was, and so I did. My mother recorded my talk, yes with those obnoxious cassette tape recorders! And I can hear my mother saying to my step-dad, she left out the part about Sister Jensen. And to this day I regret I left it out. She had touched my soul and forever changed the person I became and I will always be grateful that she loved me and I loved her too.

Donna M. Morgan March 1, 2010
It was 1959 when Jack and I had just moved to Napa because as a trainee-office manager for Scripps Newspapers he was temporarily assigned to the Napa Register. During the few months we lived in Napa our first daughter, Suzanne was born. It was a difficult birth and I was not well afterwards. We did not know many people and because we were only going to be here for a short time not many LDS really extended themselves to us. But Afton and Jack had us to dinner several times and in our circumstances it meant a great deal. I am sure they never realized the import of their kindness. When we returned to Napa many years later I reminded Afton but she had forgotten. I will never forget. Donna M. Morgan Angwin CA

Joyce (Leach) Brace March 1, 2010
She was the precious, long-time neighbor of my late parents-Wayne & Carmen Leach. So helpfull to my Mom when my Dad passed away 12/27/87. Always shared snacks with Mom & Mom gave fruit & lots of conversation She is in my prayers.

Anne & Marty Watson March 2, 2010
Our deepest sympathies on the passing of Keith's mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Nina Osterlye March 6, 2010
Afton and her husband already had several children yet they participated in our foster care program in Napa County. I met her as a Social Worker with Napa County. 30 years later my SW Supervisor went on a mission to the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake. We kept in contact by email and she kept mentioning how this one person named Afton was such a support to her. One day my friend Shirley mentioned that her friend Afton was from Napa Ca. She thought I would find that interesting since I live in Napa. I wrote her back right away and said: Your new friend is not by any chance named Afton Jensen, is it? And of course it was. Just wanted to let the family know that I am thinking about them and I know what a generous heart she shared with so many people.

Martin Joseph Mbuga March 7, 2010
TOUCH OF A HEROINE They may say life is meaningless; hmnn … I’d think as Afton would She always showed such willingness; in making this a better world, Gone but not so far away! She floats within the clouds above Seeking who had left astray, to nature, nourish and to love; I bet she’d tell the juvenile, ‘come ye close, there is this tale About the babe on river Nile, that had a mighty pharaoh fall, It doesn’t breath, his curved out sphinx; unless it gets another nose I travelled there and learnt its jinx; ceases once it rains and snows’ That we’d pick a humble line, from her long and tireless life Could surely be the best align, for such a loyal ‘n witty wife, Many here have felt her touch, and grieve with all Americans Her light is unto a dimming torch, that’s faded out for Africans; Perhaps we should remember her, yes, with tears but those of joy And print her deeds from everywhere, into a piece we’ll ever enjoy. For Afton Lorrene Jensen Kern (Friend, Wife, Mother and Granny) Africa’s Tribute by Martin Joe Mbuga

mike jensen March 8, 2010
I could not begin to share memories I have there are way to many. All I can say is that if it were not for my mom adopting me I would not be the man I am today. She was so kind and gentle and had a huge heart. I love her so much, but now she gets to be with my dad. I LOVE YOU MOM.