Obit: Grahn, Christopher Mark (1987 - 2022)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Grahn, Schaefer, Baer, Deichsel, Johnson, Killian, Burge, Grande, Rugland, Redfern, Martin, Bourke

----Source: Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home (Abbotsford, Clark Co., WI) 7/23/2022

Grahn, Christopher Mark (15 September 1987 – 19 July 2022)

Christopher Mark Grahn, age 34, of Fargo, ND (formerly of Colby,) passed away unexpectedly on July 19, 2022, in Fargo, ND.

Christopher was born on September 15, 1987, in Marshfield. He is the son of Dr. Timothy Grahn and Deborah (Dr. Michael) Schaefer. He attended schools in Colby, Aquinas High School in La Crosse, and graduated from Kolbe Academy in 2005. He studied at NDSU in Fargo, ND, where he is a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 2012. He was currently employed at Packet Digital in Fargo, ND as a software engineer where he did coding and troubleshooting hardware.

Christopher was known for his witty humor, generosity, kindness, tenderness, and patience. He loved playing hockey year around, 4-5 nights a week. He was in several leagues including The Hockey Finders and Fargo Moorhead Adult Hockey Club. He was a member of The Amateur Radio Relay League and he enjoyed designing, building, and operating ham radios and antennas. He also enjoyed playing piano, reading, weight lifting, shooting sports, and BWCA canoe camping. He was an avid fisherman always looking for ways to improve his gear and catch that monster Northern!

Christopher lived life with great passion. He is dearly loved by his family and friends. Christopher will be enormously missed and never forgotten by those he left behind: his father Dr. Timothy Grahn of Fargo, ND, his mother Deborah and step-father Dr. Michael Schaefer of Colby; fiancé Haley Baer of Fargo, ND; one brother Travis Grahn of Green Bay, one sister Elisabeth (Tom) Deichsel, four step-brothers David Schaefer (Brooke Johnson) of Mpls, MN, Dr. Matthew Schaefer of Eau Claire, Ben Schaefer (Christine Killian) of Mpls, MN and Zachary Schaefer, of Mpls, MN and one step-sister Cristen (David) Burge of Brookston, MN; nephew Asher Deichsel, nieces Felicity and Augustina Deichsel; step-niece Birdie Burge and step-nephew Jordi Burge; step-grandmother Dr. Jody Grande, step-grandparents Bernard and Dorothy Schaefer; many beloved aunts and uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Francis and Aileen Grahn, Duane and Corrine Grande and his Aunt Francha Rugland.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Parish in Colby on Saturday, July 30, 2022. Father Joseph Redfern will officiate with Father Samuel Martin concelebrating and assisted by Deacons Mike Schaefer and John Bourke. Interment to follow at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Colby. Family and friends are welcome on Friday, July 29 from 4-7 p.m. at Maurina Schilling Funeral Home in Abbotsford (with the rosary prayed at 6:30 p.m.) and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Live stream will be available for those unable to attend on the Maurina Schilling Funeral Home Facebook page or after the service anytime on Facebook or the website.

In lieu of flowers, donations to a memorial fund to be distributed in Christopher’s name would be greatly appreciated.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Christopher, please visit our floral store.