Obituary of Jim Lauridsen Jensen III

Jim Lauridsen Jensen III passed away on June 30, 2024, unexpectedly at age 57 leaving family and friends in shock and with heavy hearts. A blood clot in his brain that was very small with minor symptoms quickly turned into a serious situation that took his life. Jim had many interests that were unique and as he said many times, “I fly my geek flag highly.” Jim had an intellectual curiosity in almost everything and retained knowledge easily. After Jim’s death, one of his cousins observed that Jim knew a lot about many things from his fascination with NASA and rocket launches, trains, board games, technology, the science behind cooking and fermentation, carnivorous plants, current events, politics, and history. There was rarely a subject Jim couldn’t speak about with authority. He was also a great storyteller who managed to make us all laugh with his love of the absurd and his great ability to be a smart ass. Despite his cynicism and biting commentary about society, he still maintained the awe and wonder he had for the world from the time he was a little boy. Jim was born on January 6, 1967, in Reno, Nevada to Carol Flowers Jensen and Jim L. Jensen II. He had a younger brother Robert, born on the same day as Jim, two years later. The family moved to Palo Alto and Jim grew up there, graduating from Gunn High School. While attending Foothill College, his mother asked him to move to her home in Boulder Creek to help pay the bills as she took care of several family members with serious medical conditions. During this time Jim worked 50-60 hours a week and worked multiple jobs at a time to ensure they didn’t lose their family home. He worked at the Boardwalk, the technical services department for the Santa Cruz County Library system, and delivered pizzas on the side. He also worked for Roaring Camp Railroads as a conductor, brakeman, and fireman both for freight and tourism lines. This was by far was his favorite job as trains were his passion, from old steam engines to high-speed rail. Despite the heavy burden of working long hours, Jim stayed dedicated to obtaining his Associate of Science degree in computer and information systems, trying to take at least one course per semester. He graduated in 2008 from Cabrillo College and as he liked to say, “I took 20 years to get my two-year degree.” In 2002, Jim went to work in the Information Services Division at the County of Santa Cruz providing tech support for his co-workers for over 20 years. In 1999, Jim met his future wife, Richelle Noroyan, and very soon after meeting each other, both knew they had found “the one.” They were together for almost 25 years and married for 21 years, living in Santa Cruz. While they had different interests and personalities, they balanced each other, with Jim often saying, “Me with my B minus personality and you with you with your A+ ways means I calm you down and you light a fire under my ass.” They went on many adventures together that included travel, political conventions, running for local office, road trips, and many visits with family and friends. Jim and Richelle absolutely loved Hawaii and took multiple trips there over the years with a lot of discussion of possibly moving to one of the islands after retirement. Jim also loved his kitties and had to convince Richelle that adopting a seven-year-old 17-pound cat named Gabe with an abscess and upper respiratory infection was a good idea. Gabe became a Facebook star among Jim and Richelle’s friends with all his antics. Jim was an animal lover and often after providing tech support at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter would have stories for Richelle about all the kitties he wanted to adopt. Predeceased by his parents and brother Robert, Jim’s legacy is carried on by his wife Richelle of Santa Cruz, stepmother Judith Jensen of Albany, Oregon and numerous aunts and uncles, and cousins residing in London, Alaska, Arizona, California, Michigan, and Oregon. A memorial for Jim will be held on August 10, 2024. For location and time, please email jimjensenmemorial@gmail.com If you would like to donate a gift in Jim’s honor, please make a donation in his memory to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter or the non-profit social service agency Valley Churches United.