James Devere Christensen
December 17, 1940 — February 26, 2014
Visitation:
From 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 28, 2014, at Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa.
Funeral Services:
11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa.
Burial:
Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa.
James DeVere Christensen was born on a farm near Defiance, Iowa, December 17, 1940, the son of Arthur R. and Martha Lena Petersen Christensen. He was baptized at his Grandmother Christensen’s home in Manilla, Iowa, May 11, 1941, and confirmed in his Christian Faith at First Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska, December 5, 1963. James was raised on the family’s farm north of Manilla where he enjoyed scrapping vehicles as a youth. He received his education in the Manilla schools from which he graduated with the class of 1958. Following high school James attended the Universal Trade School in Omaha, Nebraska, studying auto body repair, and upon completion of his schooling, was employed at the Rosen-Novak Dealership there. On June 24, 1962, James was united in marriage with Jean Lou Thomssen at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla, Iowa. Their union was blessed with four children: Joleen, Jeff, Janelle and Julie. They made their home in Omaha, Nebraska, where James continued his employment with Rosen-Novak and later at Tip Top Manufacturing. In 1965 the family moved to Denison, Iowa, where James was employed for a short time with Marv’s DX Station before beginning his career at the Denison Hide Plant. After the Hide Plant closed he was employed at Custom Ribs until his retirement at age 61. Retirement allowed James more time to pursue his hobbies of woodworking, camping, attending flea markets and having garage sales. As a sports fan James especially enjoyed watching sports with his grandchildren, and he took great delight in joking with his family and friends. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. Surrounded by his loving family James died late Wednesday afternoon, February 26, 2014, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital, Denison, Iowa. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 73 years, 2 months and 9 days. James was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Martha Christensen. Those remaining to cherish his memory include his wife, Jean Christensen of Denison, Iowa; four children: Joleen and husband Dean Lafrentz of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, Jeff Christensen and wife Lisa of Newell, Iowa, Janelle Christensen of Denison, Iowa, and Julie and husband Dave Weller of Manning, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; one brother, Allen Christensen and wife Dalene of Council Bluffs, Iowa; one sister, Corine Cahan of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Kurt R. Kaiser and the Rev. David M. Sewing officiating. Music for the service included the congregational hymns of “Here I Am Lord”, “Old Rugged Cross” and “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” with Karen Kahl serving as organist. Pallbearers included Jeremy Lafrentz, Joey Lafrentz, Dereck Trimpe, Justin Weller, Jordan Weller, Aaron Kaufman, Josh Winkel and Brian Knudsen. Interment was at the Manning Cemetery in Manning, Iowa. Immediately following the funeral service the family invited everyone to remain at the church and join them for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the Zion Ladies Aid. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements where a visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 28, 2014.
From 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 28, 2014, at Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa.
Funeral Services:
11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa.
Burial:
Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa.
James DeVere Christensen was born on a farm near Defiance, Iowa, December 17, 1940, the son of Arthur R. and Martha Lena Petersen Christensen. He was baptized at his Grandmother Christensen’s home in Manilla, Iowa, May 11, 1941, and confirmed in his Christian Faith at First Lutheran Church, Omaha, Nebraska, December 5, 1963. James was raised on the family’s farm north of Manilla where he enjoyed scrapping vehicles as a youth. He received his education in the Manilla schools from which he graduated with the class of 1958. Following high school James attended the Universal Trade School in Omaha, Nebraska, studying auto body repair, and upon completion of his schooling, was employed at the Rosen-Novak Dealership there. On June 24, 1962, James was united in marriage with Jean Lou Thomssen at Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla, Iowa. Their union was blessed with four children: Joleen, Jeff, Janelle and Julie. They made their home in Omaha, Nebraska, where James continued his employment with Rosen-Novak and later at Tip Top Manufacturing. In 1965 the family moved to Denison, Iowa, where James was employed for a short time with Marv’s DX Station before beginning his career at the Denison Hide Plant. After the Hide Plant closed he was employed at Custom Ribs until his retirement at age 61. Retirement allowed James more time to pursue his hobbies of woodworking, camping, attending flea markets and having garage sales. As a sports fan James especially enjoyed watching sports with his grandchildren, and he took great delight in joking with his family and friends. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison. Surrounded by his loving family James died late Wednesday afternoon, February 26, 2014, at Crawford County Memorial Hospital, Denison, Iowa. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 73 years, 2 months and 9 days. James was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Martha Christensen. Those remaining to cherish his memory include his wife, Jean Christensen of Denison, Iowa; four children: Joleen and husband Dean Lafrentz of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, Jeff Christensen and wife Lisa of Newell, Iowa, Janelle Christensen of Denison, Iowa, and Julie and husband Dave Weller of Manning, Iowa; 10 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; one brother, Allen Christensen and wife Dalene of Council Bluffs, Iowa; one sister, Corine Cahan of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Kurt R. Kaiser and the Rev. David M. Sewing officiating. Music for the service included the congregational hymns of “Here I Am Lord”, “Old Rugged Cross” and “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” with Karen Kahl serving as organist. Pallbearers included Jeremy Lafrentz, Joey Lafrentz, Dereck Trimpe, Justin Weller, Jordan Weller, Aaron Kaufman, Josh Winkel and Brian Knudsen. Interment was at the Manning Cemetery in Manning, Iowa. Immediately following the funeral service the family invited everyone to remain at the church and join them for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the Zion Ladies Aid. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements where a visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 28, 2014.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Devere Christensen, please visit our flower store.