Colleen Lissner
September 5, 1930 - July 2, 2018

Colleen Caroline (Jensen, Jenkins) Lissner; September 5, 1930 - July 2, 2018. Born in Beechy, Saskatchewan; this first-born "Jensen" cowgirl was the creation of strong-willed parents Arthur Topholm Jensen and Kathryn Hazel Collins. When she was three, the family left Canada and moved to another ranch in Ellensburg, Washington. There, she grew-up riding horses, doing chores, and homework; she loved lambs, horses, bunnies, birds, and just about every critter. Growing up in Ellensburg on the ranch and attending school, Colleen first worked at the Liberty Theater as an usherette after high school while studying courses in business (at then) Central Washington State College. She went on to study for a year at Business College in Walla Walla. In 1952 she got a job at the Greyhound bus station in Yakima at the ticket sales office where she met and married WWII Navy veteran Thomas Edward Jenkins of Yakima who was a bus driver for the company. Together, they had three children; Thomas Jeffrey, Catherine Ann, and Christine Louise. Her husband Tom passed away nine years later in 1962; leaving her as sole support for her young children. In 1964 she moved the family to Bellevue, Washington; after landing a job with the School District's Food Service as a junior high-school "lunch-lady", and then kitchen manager until her retirement in 1992. Along the way Colleen saw to it that her three children came first. She found the perfect new father for them when she married Retired WWII Navy veteran Commander James Lissner in 1968. His generous and loving heart still beats. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together this August 6th.

During retirement, Colleen traveled the world with Jim, after he vowed to her they would do just that. At home they enjoyed mentoring grade school children at the local schools for over a decade. Colleen always enjoyed taking pictures and creating photo albums of all their adventures; including the growing families of her step-children Greg, Jim, and Carnot. She had a green-thumb and enjoyed gardening, sewing and making crafts. It was a summer tradition for Colleen to drive to the Yakima Valley for apricots, peaches, and pears, which she enjoyed canning and sharing with friends.

Colleen is survived by her husband James Lissner, her younger brother Bob Jensen, son Jeff Jenkins, daughters Cathy Conover and Chris Jenkins, as well as their spouses and many other close relatives and friends. We love you Mom! Rest in Peace.

Interment service to be held at 12:00 pm, August 25th, Forest Lawn Cemetery; 6701 30th Ave. SW Seattle, WA 98126. 2:00 pm reception following at the home of Colleen's daughter, Chris Jenkins.

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