BIOGRAPHY

Jensen was born in Herning, Midtjylland, Denmark, on 7 May 1908, as the eldest of five children born to parents Hans Jørgensen Lindholm and Helfrida Nielsine Lindholm. One of her sisters was developmentally disabled, and since the father did not want help from the public, she was responsible for much of her sister’s care. Her father was a blacksmith. In her youth, she would go with her mother to clean three of the city’s offices every morning. After finishing school, she got a job as a telephone operator at Jydsk Telefon, working night shifts.

In 1934, she married Ejner Jensen. They had a stillborn daughter not long after their marriage, and Karla had a number of spontaneous abortions. They later adopted two children in the 1940s: Anne-Lykke (1944–2014) and Hans-Boy (born 1948). Her husband was a master painter, but later established his own business on Herning’s main street. He owned a shop that sold wine, tobacco and handmade pipes. He was in charge of purchasing, while Karla was a clerk and was responsible for the accounts. Her husband passed away in 1975.

In 2014, her daughter died from cancer. Even as a supercentenarian, she still lived in the same apartment where she moved in with her husband following their marriage.

RECOGNITION

Jensen was portrayed in TV series “I Danmark er jeg født” (English: “I was born in Denmark”) and in the book “Jenny og de andre 100+” (English: “Jenny and the other 100+”), written by Jørn Jørs Pedersen.

On 22 July 2017, following the death of 111-year-old Ellen Brandenborg, she became the oldest living person in Denmark, at the age of 109.

On 23 August 2017, following the death of 110-year-old Ulla Lund of Massachusetts, USA, she became the oldest living Danish-born person.

On 24 July 2019, following the death of 111-year-old Carl Mattsson of Sweden, she became the oldest living person in the Nordic Countries.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Hans-Boys mor er Danmarks ældste: ”Min mors styrke er hendes livsværdier”” – Kristeligt Dagblad, 5 December 2019

* “Karla Lindholm Jensen levede et langt liv med dyb sorg og stor lykke” – Kristeligt Dagblad, 18 December 2020

GALLERY