Jeannine Colleen Christian

Jeannine (Jeannie) Colleen Christian, age 83, passed away Monday, March 31, 2014, in Portland, Oregon. Jeannie was born to the late Fred and Regina Klingman in Mound City, South Dakota. She attended Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon. Jeannie was the second oldest of five children. The family moved to Willamette, Oregon when Jeannie was in grade school and moved to inner city Portland where she attended Jefferson High School and met James (Jim) Christian. Quite the “tom-boy,” Jeannie played sports with the boys in the neighborhood and that is when Jim and Jeannie became friends. Jim went into the Army in World War II and received a surprise letter from Jeannie. Upon his return from Europe, Jim went with his sister to say “hi” at the grocery store where Jeannie was working. After a humorous moment where Jeannie suspected Jim’s sister to be a take-home bride from his Army travels, she was relieved to find out that was not the case. The love story started when Jim drove by Jeannie and her sister, Phyllis, as they were strolling down the sidewalk and offered up a ride to both of them…Jeannie, without hesitation, jumped in the car as her sister stood there confused at her spontaneity. That moment sparked the flames of love to last a lifetime. Jim proposed marriage very soon after that, knowing this was the girl he wanted to love and be with forever. For nearly 65-years of marriage, only his year in the Korean War could separate the two. Early in her marriage, Jeannie worked as a “proof operator” at US Bank in the evenings so she could be at home with her boys during the day when Jim worked. When the boys entered school, she went to work as a bookkeeper for the law firm of Davies, Biggs, Strayer, Stoel and Boley, but wanting to be able to spend summers with her sons, she took a job as the secretary of Parkrose Middle School where she retired in 1992. Jeannie had a love of new experiences, dining out, traveling to tropical destinations and the Oregon coast. Family events topped her list of favorite things. She was always so gracious of any treats she received, and a lover of fun. Her devotion to family, raising her three sons, Jimmie, Jeffrey and John, and loving her husband was the focus of her life. That love grew to include her six grandchildren, William, Maki, Jeffrey, Jacob, Jillian and Jack. A tireless “giver,” she always put family before herself even as her health began to fail. In addition to being the most wonderful wife and mother a family could ever hope for, Jeannie had a kindness and sweetness of personality that affected all that knew her. The way she was able to balance running a household, raising three boys, being the most supportive and loving wife and having a full time career… no doubt set some records. What Jeannie meant to her beloved husband and three boys cannot be explained in words. She will be so very missed… and her amazing, loving presence will remain with her family and friends forever. Jeannie is survived by her loving husband, Jim, her three sons, Jimmie, Jeff and John, her six grandchildren, her sisters, Phyllis and Donna, and her, brother Jack. Service Information