Gayle H. Jensen, 77, an author, passionate advocate for education and beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Oak Brook, Illinois, after a three-year battle with cancer.

Gayle was a beautiful soul. She was kind and generous, often putting others ahead of herself and working hard on behalf of good causes. She was a devoted friend to many, a loving and wise sister and the most amazing wife, mother and grandmother to Ken, her cherished husband of 55 years, her two daughters and her three grandsons.

Gayle was born in Annapolis, Maryland, to Dee (Haynes) and Paul Hakanen, a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II. She grew up in suburban Chicago and graduated from Glenbrook North High School, going on to earn a bachelor’s degree in history at DePauw University and a master’s degree in humanities from the University of Chicago.

Her first job after college was teaching, and Gayle would end up devoting much of her life to the cause of public education. She founded the Association on Public School Financing, which advocated legislatively for more funding for local public schools. For her work, she received an outstanding citizen award from Downers Grove in 1981, as well as the “Those Who Excel” award from the Illinois State Board of Education. Gayle later went to work for the Illinois Association of School Boards and served nine years on the District 58 school board.

As a young mother, Gayle helped found the parent and child education support group PACES, which thrived in the Chicago area. She teamed up with Diane Mason and Carolyn Ryzewicz to write the book How to Grow a Parents Group in 1979 and then followed that up with a book on raising toddlers called No More Tantrums … and Other Good News. In her later years, she became very active with the University of Chicago.

Gayle is survived by her loving family: husband Ken Jensen, daughters Kristin (Jon) Cohen and Danielle (Andy) Buckner, brother Greg (Heather) Hakanen, grandsons Ryan Buckner, Brandon Buckner and Sam Cohen, brother-in-law Chuck (Karen) Jensen, nieces and nephews Jenny Jensen, Wade (Matt) Jensen, Allison (Quincy) Egert, Cory (Eric) Hakanen and Kyle Hakanen, and grand-nieces and nephews Max Schoolderman, Annelies Schoolderman, Savanna Egert, Oscar Larson, Lorelei Egert and Ella Larson.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to First Book, an organization devoted to providing books to kids in need at PNC Bank, c/o First Book, Lockbox No. 826769, 312 W. Route 38, Moorestown, NJ 08057 or www.firstbook.org. It fit so well with Gayle’s lifelong love of reading and her passionate advocacy for public education.

Funeral Services and Interment Private.

Arrangements by Adams-Winterfield & Sullivan Funeral Home. Information: 630-968-1000 or www.adamswinterfieldsullivan.com.