ROCHESTER- Gracefully on November 27, 2025 at the age of 80.

Kurt is predeceased by his parents, Warren and Lillian (Jurgens); and his in-laws, Thomas and Alice Sidoti. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Cathleen (Sidoti) Jensen; survived by his children Eric (Nicole) Jensen, and daughter Michelle (Brian) Beauchamp; grandchildren, Dane, Lexie and Ryder Beauchamp; sister Marcia (John) St. Peter; brother-in-law, Charles (Laura) Sidoti; nieces Jessica and Katelyn; special friend Don Mosher; special thanks to the staff at Monroe Community Hospital Faith 4th floor and the U of R Strong Hospice team.

Kurt was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was a graduate of Purdue University, and the ROTC Program. He was honorably discharged with the rank of First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was a 28 year employee of the Eastman Kodak Company.

Kurt enjoyed 50 years of vacationing and fishing at Lake George with his family, growing plants, repairing things, playing cards especially solitaire, going to breakfast, doing the jumble in the paper and his beloved dog, Blazer.

Visitation 10-11:30am on Saturday, December 6th at Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home at 1411 Vintage Lane. His funeral service will follow visitation at 11:30am. Memorial donations can be made in Kurt’s name to the UR Medicine Homecare, Attn: Hospice/We Honor Veterans Program, 2180 Empire Blvd, Webster, NY 14580.

Life Story of Kurt Warren Jensen

Kurt Warren Jensen lived his life with a rare mixture of precision, strength, and peaceful surroundings. Complex in the best way—strong-willed, factual, thoughtful, loving, determined, and serious—he was a man who understood who he was, what mattered, and how he wanted to move through the world.

Early Life
Kurt was born on October 16, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, in a small house on New England Avenue—just two doors down from his paternal grandparents. This closeness shaped his early years, grounding him in family traditions, routines, and an unspoken sense of connection.

He was the son of Warren Jensen, who worked for the Lilly Tulip Cup Corporation, and Lillian (Jurgens) Jensen, a homemaker who later worked as a secretary once her children were in school. He grew up alongside his sister, Marcia, with whom he shared a genuine bond—one marked by mischievous adventures, creative play, and an early introduction to the outdoors.

Kurt attended John Mills Grade School and Monticello High School, where his natural affinity for logic, structure, and problem-solving began to surface. He had a Dalmatian named Duke, his first loyal companion, and later, as a father, a golden retriever named Blazer, who became part of the family memories his children would carry.

Education, Service, and Early Passions
Drawn to how things worked and determined to build a career with purpose, Kurt earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. During his college years, he was a member of ROTC and went on to serve two years of active duty in the United States Signal Corps, a branch of the U.S. Army. His patriotism—deep, earnest, and unwavering—became one of the defining through-lines of his life. Respect for the American flag, its symbolism, and its proper display mattered to him immensely.

After his military service, Kurt began his engineering career, eventually joining Kodak, where his precision, thoroughness, reliability, and uncompromising work ethic earned him respect. His boss, Louie Quadrinni, became the most impactful professional influence in his life, shaping how Kurt approached leadership, standards, and excellence.

A Man of Quiet Joys and Simple Rituals
Though serious and contemplative by nature, Kurt filled his life with hobbies that connected him to the land, the water, and the rhythms of quiet moments. He loved being outdoors, tending to his garden, fixing things around the house, playing solitaire, and completing the jumble in the newspaper—never online, never electronic, always the newspaper.

He treasured music, especially instrumental pieces—Yanni, Bocelli, and the boldness of the 1812 Overture. He enjoyed classic shows and films such as Star Trek, Voyager, The Right Stuff, and The Hunt for Red October.

His favorite foods were as specific as the man himself: milk, surf & turf, Manhattans made just right, and meals served at the proper temperature. Hot food hot, cold food cold—no exceptions. Loud noises, cold food, and the realities of aging? Those he could have done without.

A Lifetime of Fishing and Gardening
Kurt’s love of fishing began in childhood, as beautifully recalled by his sister, Marcia. As a five-year-old, he spent long stretches in the backyard near the small rock-rimmed pool at his grandfather’s house, watching the fish he could never quite catch. It was a spark that expanded into the yearly Wisconsin fishing trips the siblings took together—first to Fish Creek, then to Rismon’s Lodge on Ballard Lake.

That lodge became a fisherman’s paradise for Kurt. He fished from morning through night, filling stringers with small fish when he wanted action, and pursuing the larger bass, walleye, and muskies when he wanted a challenge. He returned to the dock, grinning, before heading to the fish-cleaning shed—a ritual he loved.

In the quieter months, Kurt became a master gardener. He grew massive gardens overflowing with vegetables from A to Z, nurturing each plant with patience and skill. If a plant wilted, he revived it under the glow of his father’s old dahlia lights in the basement. Marcia recalled that wherever the family lived, the garden was Kurt’s domain—and his green thumb never failed.

Family Life
Kurt met the love of his life, Cathleen, on a blind date arranged by a coworker—proof that even a man as logical and precise as Kurt could encounter something wonderfully unexpected. They built a life rooted in loyalty, respect, and shared purpose.

Together they raised Michelle and Eric, creating a childhood filled with both routine and adventure. The family enjoyed summer vacations in Lake George and the 1,000 Islands, as well as memorable trips to Washington, D.C., Disney World, and Cape Cod.

Kurt reveled in the small pleasures of family life: fishing on his boat, going out to breakfast, fixing things around the house, listening to music, and teaching his children through action more than words. His handshake was legendary—strong, crushing, unmistakably Kurt. His love for his family, his home, and his country was constant and fierce.

A Man of Character
Five words described Kurt best:
Precise. Thorough. Determined. Loving. Hardworking. Strong.

He fought hard for everything that mattered—for the stability of his home, the safety and well-being of his family, and the integrity of the life he built. His seriousness never overshadowed his love; rather, it strengthened it. He cared in ways that were solid, dependable, and deeply felt.

A Brother’s and Sister’s Bond
Marcia’s memories illustrate the heart of Kurt as a brother—one who taught her to fish, who spent long hours with her in rowboats, who built puppets, played with train sets, and rode Christmas bikes through the neighborhood. Their bond was steady and real, a “togetherness” she cherished then and hopes to share again someday.

A Life Well Lived
Kurt Warren Jensen leaves behind a legacy of strength, discipline, devotion, and quiet, enduring love. He was a man who understood purpose, who believed in doing things right, and who poured himself into the people and passions he loved most.

He lived with intention.
He loved with conviction.
And he left the world better for having been here.