Marilynn Fay Jens

Marilynn F. Jens (Nee Mitchell) Of Shorewood, WI

May 9, 1935 – May 20, 2018

Marilynn passed away peacefully at the age of 83.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Allan Jens, who had a varied career of everything from painting houses to being a vice president of a company. She was the dear mother of Barry Jens, a retired TV news writer and producer, and his wife Tina, an author and adjunct at Columbia College, of Chicago, IL; Pam, a mother and wife, and her husband Steve Stanley, a retired owner of Granite Creations, now of Quincy, MI; and Germaine, a bartender at Coffeetails at the Y-Not II Tavern, and husband John Bowers (deceased), a bartender, of Milwaukee, WI; and adoring grandmother of Jessica Stanley, an Account Manager at Snapchat, of Chicago, IL.

Marilynn was born May 9th, 1935, in Iron Mountain, MI, to Dorothy and Donald Mitchell, a supervisor at Evinrude Motors. She spent her childhood in Iron Mountain and Milwaukee.

She and Allan were married in Milwaukee July 2nd, 1954, and their three children were born there. The family lived briefly in Los Angeles, CA and Las Vegas, NV before returning to Milwaukee.

She was the sister of James Mitchell (deceased); Pat Nellsen (deceased); Ronald Mitchell (deceased); Bruce (Caroline) Mitchell; Germaine Mitchell; and Debra (Jack) Fleming. She is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and dear friends.

Marilynn was a distributor for Viviane Woodard Cosmetics and taught makeup classes in the sixties. She was a sales associate at Chapman’s Department Store and later worked in various positions for more than 20 years at Thompson’s Serv-U Pharmacy.

She loved the music of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet; The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson; comedies and classic movies by Humphrey Bogart and Paul Newman; funny novels, such as Janet Evanovich’s books; and working crosswords. She had an amazing green thumb.

She loved very hot food and even hotter coffee. Despite having a strong dislike of certain foods and condiments, she was nevertheless an excellent cook whose signature dishes included spaghetti sauce, meatballs in red gravy, and pasties.

The family offers a special thanks to Horizon’s Lawlis Family Hospice of Mequon for their kind care at the end of her life.

A celebration of Marilynn’s life will be held Sat, June 30th, 2-7 pm, at the Y-Not II Tavern (706 E. Lyon, Milwaukee, 414-347-9972) with food, photos, and shared memories.

In lieu of flowers, memorials, to her family or in her name to The American Lung Association in Wisconsin, are appreciated.