Vernie Marie (Von Essen) Jensen was born Dec. 1, 1927, in Oakland to Elmer John and Marie Katherine Barbara (Uehling) Von Essen. She passed away at 91 years of age on Feb. 6, 2019, at the Hooper Care Center, in Hooper.

Vernie grew up on her parents’ farm southwest of Oakland and attended country school at District 40 through eighth grade. She graduated from Oakland High School in 1944. She served as Honored Queen of Job’s Daughters in Oakland. Vernie attended Midland Lutheran College, Fremont, for a year before teaching country school at District 84 south of Uehling for two years. She prided herself on having the top eighth-grade student in Dodge County during that tenure. Vernie thereafter graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Midland Lutheran College in 1950.

Vernie and Wallace Erick Jensen, of North Platte, were married on Aug. 19, 1951, at rural St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hooper. They became specially acquainted while on geology trips to the Southwest at Midland. They continued their education, and taught school in Ravenna and Greeley, Colorado, for several years before returning to Uehling. They operated Motel 77 in Uehling. Vernie taught home economics at Uehling High for a year, and thereafter, taught art at Oakland-Craig Jr.-Sr. High until retiring in 1989. Vernie belonged to the Golden Hour Club, WoHeLo Club, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Women, and Oakland-Lyons Art Club. She served as Worthy Matron of the Oakland Order of Eastern Star. She attended night and summer school at Midland Lutheran College, Dana College, Blair, and the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and received a Master of Art Education degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1977. After retirement, Vernie served on the Village of Uehling’s 100-year celebration committee in 2006 and was a co-author of the book published for the event. Vernie resided the last 10 years of her life at the Hooper Care Center, where she considered the staff and residents her best friends.

Vernie enjoyed humor, travel, genealogy, geology, reading, sewing, dachshunds, Hershey’s Almond Bars, sidewalk sales, and art. Her travels included nearly every state, Europe, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. She visited local art museums on every trip. She often traveled with Moustache Joe Tours, Fremont, and attended numerous Elderhostels. Vernie traveled to Washington, D.C., with the Burt County Bicentennial Choir in 1976. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Uehling, for her entire life, and taught Sunday and Bible Schools. Vernie often gave talks at showers and other social events, featuring the works of Mark Twain and Irma Bombeck. She enjoyed visiting with her students, and encouraged them to pursue higher education, talents and dreams. Her students called her “Vern.” She had a knack for finding that delicate balance between being a teacher//parent and a friend. She knew when a student needed someone to listen. Students would often come up to her to tell a story and pump her for a funny comment. She enjoyed being around people. She saw colors, birds, flowers, wildlife, rock formations, constellations, and sunsets that most rarely notice. She always carried a camera.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Norma Auralea; brothers-in-law, James Frances Frahm and Elden Duane Wesely.

Survivors are sister, Constance Ann Wesely, Fremont; son and daughter-in-law, John Eric (Jack) and Mary Valentine (Burson) Jensen, Lincoln sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Esther Helen (Jensen) and Vigo Deverne Christensen, Bennington; grandchildren, Ethan John Jensen, Hannah Marie Jensen, and Gayla Ann Berry, Lenexa, Kansas, and Adam Lee (spouse Rebecca Ann Wilson) Berry of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico; and great-grandchildren, Kohen Marie, Kenna Lee, Bo Wilson, and Bruce Waeldin Berry. Vernie also enjoyed many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, and their families.

A celebration of life will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Uehling. Burial will be in Uehling Cemetery in Uehling.

Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.