Michael Steven Jensen

Michael was born in Seattle Washington on November 6, 1947, to Arlene McCoy Jensen and Harold Jensen.   His parents had moved to Seattle in search of employment opportunities for his father.  His family moved back to Denver when he was two years old.  They ran a dry-cleaning business and worked in Real Estate.  Mike's mother also worked as a nurse and his father was a firefighter at the Federal Center in Lakewood, Colorado. 

Mike graduated from South High School in 1965 and went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1970 from Colorado State University in Fort Collins.  

After Mike graduated from college he enlisted in the army and was assigned to the Department of Defense Language Institute Presidio of Monterey, California. He graduated in 1971 as a Translator-Interpreter fluent in the Spanish language. He was then dispatched to Homestead, Florida and worked as a Translator-Interpreter from March 1971 to June 1973.  During that time, he earned numerous medals and awards including Soldier of the Month and Military Man of the Month. 

Mike married Terry Burk in 1970. While Mike was still in the army and while stationed in Homestead Florida, they had twin daughters Heather Ann and Celeste Rene; born in 1973.   Heather was the oldest by a few minutes.  Twins were very rare in those days, so Mike and Terry got to have their children delivered in a private hospital.  Mike took an early out and the young family returned to Colorado. The girls were only six months old, and the story goes that they also had chicken pox.  I don't know how those young parents did it! 

After moving back to Colorado, Mike first worked at a credit agency and then went to work for Public Service Company in 1974 starting as a meter reader.  He was then promoted to Field Collections and was assigned to work on several projects before being promoted to Commercial Credit Representative. 

The family settled in Lakewood in 1972.  They lived on Ingalls Street for a few years before they moved to 960 South Vance Street in 1978 where Mike has put down deep roots and where their daughter Nicole Catherine was born in 1981. She brought a lot of excitement to the street because her mother was in distress and a helicopter had to land right on the street to take Terry to the hospital to deliver Nicole. 

Mike and Terry parted ways in 1983, and Terry and the girls moved to Ft. Collins and then Red Feather Lakes. The separation from his girls was hard on Mike but he continued to be in their lives as much as he could and supported them always. He drove many miles on the highway between Lakewood and Red Feather Lakes. 

Mike met Carla Quintana in 1995 at the downtown office of Public Service Company where they both worked. Carla had a trip planned to Hawaii with her sister Kathy, so Mike brought her a Lei, hula skirt & other fun Hawaiian themed stuff.  It occurred to Carla that Mike might be interested, so they made plans to go on a date after she returned. They were married on October 13, 2001, and enjoyed a happy empty Nester union, able to travel extensively and enjoy each other’s company. 

In 2003, Public Service Company merged with Southwest Public service and Mike was offered an early retirement.  He had been with the company 29 years.  He took advantage of retirement with travel and working on the house and yard.  He also enjoyed woodworking and just fixing things. 

Mike is survived by his daughter's Celeste (Phil Daire) and Nicole (Aaron Wenholz) and his grandchildren Molly, Lilly (Heather); Logan, Tayler, Sofie (Celeste). His brother Eric (Eric Bennett) and sister Janice Quiroz. He is a special uncle and cousin to numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. 

He is survived by his wife Carla and stepsons Micah (Dessa) & Kevin Zamora; grandchildren Alexis & Erin (Micah) and Zoe (Kevin). 

He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Arlene, his brother Ronald (Darlene) and his sister Alice Herrald (Galen). His daughter Heather died July 10, 2023. 

Mike was a kind, generous and witty man, always considerate of others. He cherished his daughters and was always their Number One Dad! He was the best father figure and friend to his stepsons Micah & Kevin and a great grandfather to their children.  He was a loving, caring husband to Carla.  The blended family loved and respected each other and enjoyed some wonderful times together. 

Mike will be deeply missed by his family and friends, but we know he is our guardian watching over us.