Augie Sweethearts: Caron Klingner and Dennis Jensen, Class of 1982

Submitted by Caron Klingner of Grayslake, Ill.

Our unconventional path to marriage began in a very conventional manner at Augie. We arrived in 1978. I'd like to say I remember the thunderbolt moment when we locked eyes, but it wasn't quite that dramatic. We were both pursuing the math/science path when we arrived.

Although Dennis ended a history major, and me, a psychology major, we bonded as lab partners in chemistry and mulled over our mutual disdain and struggle to complete difficult math problems in calculus. It was in chem class where our chemistry really took off. Still, nearly 40 years later, when I smell a banana Laffy Taffy, I remember our lab creating a banana ester! We worked on calculus problems together and eventually, the girlfriend he was dating back home was replaced by the girlfriend he was dating at Augustana. That was January 1979. By April, we had declared our love for one another, and cemented a commitment that has endured for forty years.

Following graduation was the only time we didn't live together. Dennis remained in Rock Island and I returned home while we attempted to find employment and determine our future. By January 1983 we had our first apartment. Two apartments, and one house later we settled in Grayslake where we have lived for 22 years and raised two beautiful daughters. The unconventional part of the story is that we married at the Lake County Courthouse with our 1 year old daughter in attendance in 1998, 20 years after we met at Augie.