Dr. Karen Sue Hensley Jacobsen

Dr. Karen Sue Hensley Jacobsen, daughter of Francis “Weaver” Hensley and Eliza Turner Hensley, was born on Oct. 4, 1945 in Tulare, Calif. She passed peacefully in her home surrounded by family on April 4, 2025, in Lancaster, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Jerry Hensley; her sister, Wanda Jerrell Landers; and her brother-in-law, Randall Landers; and her nephews, James Hensley and David Landers. Sue is survived by her loving husband, Bruce, of Lancaster, Calif.; her brother, Josiah Hensley and his wife, Tammy, of Lebanon; sister-in-law, Sue Hensley, of Hartville; four sons, Timothy Meade, of California; Richard Meade, of Arizona; William Meade, of California; Kyle Jacobsen, of California; and one daughter, Michelle Bass, of California; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Although Sue was born in California, she grew up in Missouri, graduating from Hartville High School in 1963. She continued a lifelong dedication to learning and self-improvement, culminating with a doctorate degree in Educational Management from Pepperdine University in 1996. Sue returned to California in 1978 to the Antelope Valley, where she met her husband Bruce in 1985. They were wed in 1987 and successfully blended their families. Over the years, they raced Corvettes and shared a love of model railroading. After 29 years at Edwards Air Force Base, Sue retired as Director of Human Resource Development. Upon retirement, Sue took her first quilting class to learn to make quilts for her grandchildren and a love for quilting was born. Sue became an avid quilter, a member of the AV Quilt Association and won numerous awards at quilting shows across California. Sue’s favorite holiday was Christmas. She always decorated early with trees, lights, ornaments, quilts and figurines in every room, with the front door entry way guarded by nutcrackers Christmas and the spirit it embodies was always ali8ve in her heart and home. Sue is remembered for her warm smile, kindness, generosity, limitless love and dedication to her family and friends. Those who knew Sue are better for knowing her and deeply miss her. A Celebration of Life will be held at Palmdale Lighthouse Assembly of God Church at 11 a.m. in Palmdale, Calif. on Saturday, May 3, followed by interment at Joshua Memorial Park in Lancaster, Calif.