Obit: Christenson, Robert E. (1924? - 1960)

Contact: Stan

Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Christenson, Rush, Bogumill

----Source: THORP COURIER (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 09/01/1960

Christenson, Robert E. (1924? - 24 AUG 1960)

Robert E. Christenson, 36, of 4604 Maher Ave., Madison, the father of five young children, died from suffocation Wednesday afternoon when he fell into a fertilizer residue pit at the F.S. Royster Guano Co. plant on Dempsey Rd.

Coroner Michael Malloy said the death was accidental and no inquest will be hld.  Mr. Christenson, an employee at the Royster plant for 10 years, was cleaning a metal chute in preparation for painting it when he fell face down into the residue pit 20 feet below, Malloy said.

Fellow workers dug him out of the dust-like residue and a Bilsie ambulance crew administered oxygen treatment, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival at a Madison hospital. 

Surviving are his wife, Mary’ five children, David, 11; Iris, 10; Jerry, 8; Laura, 4 and Janie 10 months; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Christenson, 414 Maple Ave., and a sister, Mrs. William J. Rush, Hawarden, Ia.

A native Madisonian, he graduated from East High School in 1942.  He was a member of the International Chemical Workers Local No. 849 and of St. Dennis Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 27 at St. Dennis Church, Madison, the Rev. Joseph Niglis officiating.  Burial was in Resurrection Cemetery.

Among Mrs. Mary Christenson’s relatives who attended the funeral of Robert Christenson of Madison, were Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bogumill, Michael, Byron and Ruth Bogumill; Mr. and Mrs. Tom Polnaszek of Thorp, Mrs. Lucy Manicki of Hartford, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Bogumill, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Thaxton of Milwaukee, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Stoker and daughters Pat and Carlene, and son Bill of Madison.