Christian Christensen

MADISON- Christian James (Jim) Christensen, age 93, of Madison, died on Thursday September 24, 2015 at his home. He was born on February 16, 1922 in Dodge Co., MN, the son of Christian and Dorothea (Jensen) Christensen. He married Marion Thornton on April 19, 1944 in Chetek, WI.

The family left MN when Jim was 5, first settling in Shawno Co and moving to northern Michigan and Barron Co. as Jim grew up. Jim attended Pulaski High school and graduated from Chetek High School in 1941. After high school Jim attended Carlton College, worked in the harvest fields of North Dakota, farmed, and was in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He served in the US Army in WWII - Pacific Theater from 1943 to 1945. Jim and Marion were married during a 5 day transit from one assignment to another. After discharge, Jim worked in a Chetek Hardware store for 2 years. He then with Marion, opened an appliance business in Chetek that they ran until 1961.

Jim entered the ministry of the Methodist Church in 1961, first serving Hammond (Martell, New Centerville) while he completed college at UW- River Falls 1961-1963. He served Brooklyn while attending Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL 1963 to 1967. After graduation from Garrett, Jim served Stanley (Thorp, Cadott) 1967/68, Madison - Calvary 1968- 1974, Chippewa Falls- Trinity 1974-1981, Cedarburg 1981/82, and Rhinelander where he retired to Clintonville in 1989. In Clintonville, Jim had interim appointments to Hayward and Bonduel. He served 2 churches in Black Creek and rural Appleton until he retired a second time in 2000. Marion died in 1995 and in 2001, Jim settled in Madison for the rest of his life. In 2003, he married Helen Ranney. They were divorced in 2005.

Jim was a world traveler and ardent reader. Whether it was the cross country road trips camping with the family, canoeing the MN/Canadian Boundary waters with Confirmation classes, several trips to Europe- especially Denmark and Mexico with Marion, or leading church groups to Israel and Cuba; Jim traveled unconventionally, engaging the people of the lands that he visited. In 1977, he studied at the Jung Institute in Zurich Switzerland for 3 mos. In 2002, Jim worked at the Hakik United Methodist Church in South Korea for 6 mos. Jim found his calling teaching UW Extension classes for older adults beginning in 2002 until 2 days before he died.

Jim is survived by his children Carol Christensen Day (Douglas), Jennifer Christensen- Slota (Samuel), James Christensen (Becky Anderson); Grandchildren, Kelsey Christensen (John's daughter), Carly and Deanna Day, Louis Slota, and Nick Christensen (James' son); 6 nieces and nephews; many second cousins here and abroad; and countless friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife- Marion; Son -John (2015); parents; siblings Stanley, Jack, John, and Christine Christensen, and Reggie Gormley.

A funeral service will be held at FIRST UNITED METHODIST, 203 Wisconsin Ave, Madison on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Rd., Madison, on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Memorials may be made in Jim's name to Christensen Fund for United Methodist Women or Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation.

Cress Funeral Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434