Frederick Andrew Christensen

Fred Christensen (July 14, 1929-August 9, 2016) Frederick Andrew Christensen of Caldwell, Idaho, slipped quietly into the undiscovered country on August 9, 2016, ending 87 years of remarkable life. The proud son of Iowa's Danish immigrant community, Fred was born to Elmer and Stella Mae Christensen on July 14, 1929. Raised on a farm in Shelby County during the depths of the Great Depression, Fred developed a life-long empathy for the poor and downtrodden and a devotion to Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Democratic Party that could not be shaken, even by decades of living in deep-red Idaho. Fred's experience growing up on the farm also marked him as a committed conservationist and a passionate sportsman. Fred graduated from Harlan (Iowa) High School in 1947, where he was President of his senior class. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Iowa State College in 1951, where he was the President of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Fred was the first person in his family to attain a college degree. Fred's early career was spent on a crew conducting seismic surveys of potential oil deposits all across the West. While working in Central California, Fred met the love of his life, Dottie. Fred and Dorothy (Koebel) entered into a marriage on April 12, 1953, that was to last for 63 years. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Fred and Dottie lived on the Hoopa Indian Reservation in Northern California and then at South Lake Tahoe, while Fred pursued a career with California Liquid Gas Co. In 1967, Fred and Dottie took a leap of faith, moving to Nampa, Idaho, to pursue Fred's dream of owning his own business. There Fred found his life's work, eventually becoming owner and CEO of Graybill Wholesale Co., which served the rich agricultural crescent of Idaho's Snake River Valley with irrigation equipment and farm implements. In Idaho, Fred and his family spent many happy days hiking or backpacking deep in the backcountry, fishing Idaho's bountiful trout streams, cross-country skiing with friends, and hunting for Idaho's astounding variety of small game. Fred became a great aficionado of hunting dogs, and owned many, ranging from an irascible Springer Spaniel named Chipper, to elegant Griffon Pointers Dyna and Belle. In Nampa, Fred became a pillar of the community, serving in a variety of volunteer positions. As a proud Rotarian for more than 50 years, Fred led the Nampa Rotary's efforts to save the City's beautiful Union Pacific passenger depot, which now houses the Canyon County Historical Museum. As President of the Nampa Rod & Gun Club, Fred led the club's efforts to build habitat improvements that decades later still benefit Idaho's wildlife. While President of the Rod & Gun Club, Ted Trueblood, the famous outdoor writer, and one of Fred's heroes, published an article on the Club's work in Field & Stream magazine. As a co-founder of the Idaho Conservation League, President of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, and Lifetime Member of the Boise Valley Fly Fishers, Fred helped promote conservation policies that often succeeded despite a hostile legislature. Fred also served as an Elder and Deacon of the Nampa Presbyterian Church, where he was a member for nearly five decades. He and Dottie also supported many local cultural institutions, including the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, for which they have held season subscriptions since the Festival was founded in 1977. In 1978, Gov. John Evans appointed Fred to serve on the Idaho Fish & Game Commission, giving him the chance to participate directly in the conservation of Idaho's legacy of natural resources. During his 11-year tenure, among many other accomplishments, IDFG opened the Nampa Fish Hatchery, which provides fishing opportunities for citizens across the southwest region of the state. IDFG also opened the Sawtooth Hatchery, which against all odds has succeeded in preserving the Snake River Sockeye salmon, Idaho's famous "redfish." Fred helped guide the Department through one of its most difficult periods when, during his tenure as Chairman of the Commission, two Fish & Game Conservation Officers, Conley Elms and Bill Pogue, were brutally murdered. Fred took great pride in his appointment by Gov. Evans and re-appointment by Gov. Cecil D. Andrus, whom he regarded, along with Sen. Frank Church, as the giants of Idaho politics. In Nampa, Fred also endured the greatest tragedy of his life, the loss of his eldest son, Andy, to cancer in 1979, only a few months after losing his father, Elmer. Andy was only 22, a loss Fred carried with him for the rest of his life. In 1990, Fred retired from Graybill Wholesale Company, and Fred and Dottie moved to their retirement home on the Snake River near Marsing. There, Fred pursued his passion for gardening, converting a nearly barren property into a lush habitat filled with plants native to the nearby Owyhee Mountains and dozens of species of birds and wildlife. Fred continued to fish and hunt well into his eighties. Fred and Dottie made regular sojourns to Boise to enjoy Shakespeare Festival productions and to attend Boise Hawks games. Fred also founded and served as President of the Canyon Sunrise Rotary Club, where he always proudly wore the pin marking him as a Paul Harris Fellow. Fred also continued to serve his community, working as a volunteer lobbyist in Boise for the Idaho Wildlife Federation and serving on the board of Citizens Against Poaching for many years. Fred also served as chairman of the Canyon County Democrats and continued to be actively involved in politics. As dedicated members of the Treasure Valley Wine Society, Fred and Dottie watched like anxious parents as Idaho's wine industry grew from its infancy into world-class producer of fine wines. Fred was proud to include many of Idaho's best vintners among his circle of friends. Fred was a successful businessman and dedicated and effective community volunteer. More importantly, he was devoted to his family and to his network of friends, many of whom remained close to for decades. At this time, the family is particularly grateful for their warm support. Fred is survived by, Dottie, his dedicated wife of 63 years. He is also survived by son Eric and daughter-in-law Betsy, and grandchildren Grace and Carl Frederick, all of Bothell, Washington, and by son Marc and daughter-in-law Amy of Landrum, South Carolina. He is also survived by his sister, Mildred Wilcox (Richard) of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and many nieces, nephews, and other beloved relatives and a large circle of friends. A memorial service will be held for Fred on August 18 at 4:00 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church, 400 Lake Lowell Ave., Nampa. Fred's ashes will be committed to the Snake River during a reception at the Marsing house, 20805 Lowell Road, on August 19 at 3 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Fred's name to the Idaho Wildlife Federation (http://www.idahowildlife.org/), the Rotary Foundation (https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/rotary-foundation), or the Canyon County Historical Society. Condolences may be made at [email protected] Service Information