Obit: Christensen, M. John (1924 - 2004)

Contact: History Buffs

Surnames: Christensen, Hegal, Beck, Olson, Folkens, Milton, Koecher, Jacobson

----Sources: Austin Daily Herald (Austin, Mower County, Minn.) 02/22/2004

Christensen, M. John (8 Sept. 1924 - 19 Feb. 2004)

Funeral services for M. John Christensen, age 79, of Albert Lea, Minnesota, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at Ascension Lutheran Church. Rev. Richard Hegal will officiate. Interment will be in Hartland Cemetery at a later date. Military honors will be accorded by the Freeborn County Veterans' Organizations. Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Bayview Freeborn Funeral Home.

John died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004, at Albert Lea Good Samaritan Center.

M. John Christensen was born Sept. 8, 1924, to Andrew and Jenny (Beck) Christensen in Granton, Wis.

He grew up in rural Alden and attended school in Alden and Albert Lea. He served in the United States Navy during World War II from December 1942 to July 1945.

On Jan. 9, 1945, John was united in marriage to Gwendolyn C. Olson at her parents' home.

John was a construction superintendent/carpenter for Lysne Construction and a building inspector for the City of Austin. The couple lived in Albert Lea for the last 20 years.

John was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church and was very active with the various building projects at the church. He was also a member of the American Legion.

John enjoyed working, hunting and fishing, gardening, and spending time with his family. He especially enjoyed his faithful companion, "Molly."

Survivors include his wife, Gwen of Albert Lea; children: Jeff and his wife, Sonny, Christensen of Algona, Iowa; Pam and her husband, Lee Folkens, of Blooming Prairie; and Jennifer and her husband, Philip Milton, also of Blooming Prairie; seven grandsons, one granddaughter, and two great-grandchildren; sisters, Bernice Koecher and Annabel and her husband, Maynard Jacobson; mother-in-law, Virginia C. Olson; and several nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Eddie and Bernard; and father-in-law, Gilford Olson.