LOUIS CHRISTENSEN

Louis D. Christensen, age 77, passed away in Payson, AZ on March 4, 2011. He was a cheerful and loving father, step-father, husband, grandfather, and great grandfather. A memorial service was held in Sun City, AZ on March 19, 2011. Locally, a memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Valparaiso, IN with Rev. Gretchen Gibbs officiating. The service will take place at 3:00 P.M. Interment will take place at National Memorial Cemetery in North Phoenix. Louis was born on June 18, 1933 in Kankakee, IL to Humphrey and Lucille Carlson Christensen who preceded him in death. On October 1, 1955, he married Sandra Seborg Christensen who preceded him in death on March 3, 1978. On November 4, 1978 he married Ann Uzeta Christensen who survives in Payson, AZ. He was preceded in death by his step grandsons Shawn and Justin Beaudin. Besides his wife, he is survived by his sister, Dorothy Christensen Tyson (Wade) Adams, Venice, FL; his children Carolyn Christensen (Jim) Friend, LaPorte, IN; Robert L. Christensen, LaPorte, IN; Wendy Christensen (Paul) Ihms, Gilbert, AZ; Audrey Christensen (Donny) Rossetti, Valparaiso, IN. and grandchildren Cassie and Caitlin Friend, Courtney and Brooke Ihms, Riana and Erik Christensen, and Taylor and Braedon Rossetti. In addition, he is survived by his special step children Dede (Bobby) Valdez, Don, Ron, and David Lash, grandchildren and great grandchildren. After graduating from Kankakee High School, Louis graduated from University of Illinois in 1955. As an Air Force second Lieutenant, he was the lead officer for the Air Traffic Control Aerospace Defense Command at the northern border in Minnesota. Later, he was a lead officer in Germany guarding West Berlin airspace against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. During this time, he participated on the Air Force pistol shooting team competing in Florida. Louis also worked as a department manager and customer service manager at a number of J. C. Penney stores in Illinois and Indiana, and as a financial counselor at St. Anthony's Hospital in Michigan City. He was a member of SPEBSQSA, now know as Barbershop Harmony Society, in both northern Indiana and in Arizona. While living in Michigan City, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church, and he was a volunteer for the March of Dimes. Memorials may be made to www.Nationalmssociety.org.