Norma Lou Jensen, 94, died peacefully on July 23, 2026. Known as “Teacher Norma” by her students, she was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many.
She was born in Chicago on February 6, 1932 to Paul and Helen (Conner) Dietz. Her father was a salesman and her mother was a housewife. Along with her sister Doris they lived in a Calumet Heights apartment flat on Chicago’s south side. In 1932 this was a new section of Chicago, with many vacant lots for children to play.
Norma fondly remembered Chicago, with its city lights and streetcars. Her parents would take her to Marshall Field’s during Christmas, and to Buckingham Fountain during heat waves. She later earned a BS in education from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, where she pledged the Alpha Phi sorority. She met Peter Jensen soon thereafter. They married in 1953.
They settled in suburban Chicago, and later Milwaukee, to raise a family. Like many baby boom moms, Norma devoted her time to husband and kids while enjoying suburban life. A new chapter began in 1968 when the family moved from Shorewood to an old farm near tiny Cleveland, Wisconsin. Just like the Green Acres sitcom, the husband drove to an office each day, leaving his graceful city wife to contend with rustic country living.
With her kids now in school, Norma sought a change of pace. She dusted off her degree to substitute teach at Cleveland Elementary School. She taught Sunday school and vacation bible school at St. Luke United Methodist church. She led a Girl Scout Junior troop. She served as PTA president. She volunteered as a reading specialist.
In 1978 she joined Lakeshore Technical Institute to teach English as a second language. At the time, Hmong families were being resettled in Sheboygan after fleeing the communist government of Laos. Norma found great purpose in teaching English to these hard-working, respectful and brave people. Affectionately known as “Teacher Norma,” she loved Hmong culture and its people. Students gave her many colorful hand-made tapestries in gratitude.
In 1989 Poland escaped communism, bringing Polish immigrants to Norma’s classroom. These stalwart people, who endured a devastating war and years of Soviet rule, inspired her to teach in Poland. In 1993 she joined the Wisconsin Education Association’s English Summer Camp in Poland, living in Warsaw while teaching English to Polish high schoolers. She retired in 1996 to join Peter on his hobby farm, deliver Meals on Wheels, travel Europe, enjoy dogs and be a grandma. Peter died in 2017.
Norma was a sensitive person with compassion for the less fortunate. She loved reading the newspaper with her feet up, a cup of coffee and NPR radio. She is survived by her three children, Karl (Eva) Jensen of Ironwood, MI; Anne (John) Jensen-Graczyk of Glendale, WI; William (Michelle) Jensen of Adell, WI, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 8th, 2026 at Ballhorn Funeral Chapels in Sheboygan. Visitation is from 1:00 to 3:00, with a memorial/time of sharing from 3:00 to 3:30. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to the Lakeshore College Foundation or the Literacy Council of Sheboygan County.
Ballhorn Chapels Funeral Cremation Care Center is honored to serve the family. For more information or to leave online condolences, please visit www.ballhornchapels.com.
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