BORN

1938

DIED

2020

JOHN CHRISTIANSEN Obituary

John Christiansen
Mar. 23, 1938 - Jan. 3, 2020

NORMAN
John Raymond Christiansen, of Norman, Oklahoma, passed away on Friday, January 3rd, 2020, at the age of 81. He was born on March 23rd, 1938, in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. His family included his parents Carl and Laura Christiansen, older sister Mary Ann, and older brother Calvin. He grew up working harvest and loading scrap iron with his father while his mother was a homemaker and waitress. He attended high school in Ulysses, Kansas, where he graduated in 1956. After high school, John attended the University of Oklahoma and earned two Bachelor's Degrees; one in Chemistry (1960) and one in Psychology (1962). He married Barbara Kay Branson in 1960. He then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine where he earned his M.D. in 1967. He interned at St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1968. During 1968-1970, John was drafted into the Vietnam War where he served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. During his time in Vietnam, he was awarded two Bronze Stars, one with valor. He also earned the Army Distinguished Service Commendation Medal. After he served in Vietnam he returned to Oklahoma and completed his commitment to the Army at the Ft. Sill Military Hospital in Lawton, OK, after which he was honorably discharged. He then returned for his residency and fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. John also taught medical students and sat on several boards for the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He opened his private medical practice, John Christiansen M.D. Internal Medicine and Pulmonology, in Norman, OK, in 1974. In 1977, he received the Physician's Merit Award (Hospital Guardian Angel) by vote of the hospital staff. He served his patients for 45 years up until the time of his death. He loved what he did and wanted to do it for as long as he could. He was an avid reader, enjoyed big game hunting, fly fishing, cattle ranching, farming, spending time with family, and traveling. John is preceded in death by his brother, Calvin Christiansen; father, Carl; and mother, Laura. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kay Christiansen; son, Nelson; granddaughters, Haley and Laurel; two great-grandsons, Gage and Grant; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Jim Richardson; and his sister-in-law, Estella Christiansen. Visitation is Sunday, January 12, 2020, from 4-8pm, at Resthaven Funeral Home. Services will be on Monday, January 13, 2020, at 11am, at Saint John's Episcopal Church in Norman, with internment to follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens.

Published by Oklahoman on Jan. 12, 2020.
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2 Entries

He was the kindest, caring, giving and loving man. Quiet spoken and avid audio book fan. I am so very sorry to hear of his passing but know he lived his life well.
My deepest sympathy to my dear friend Kay.

Marla MaGee

Friend

February 23, 2021

As I was leaving the hospital one morning Dr Christensen mentioned I was late leaving the hospital. I told him I hung around after my shift because we had had to put our dog down and didn't want to go home to an empty house. It was then that Dr. Christensen told me I needed another dog. I asked him if this was doctor's orders? And he replied that it was doctor's orders. Shortly after I rescued a beautiful chocolate Labrador retriever! Our Anne is still with us today!

January 13, 2020

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Memorial Events
for JOHN CHRISTIANSEN

Jan

12

Visitation

4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Resthaven Funeral Home

OK

Jan

13

Service

11:00 a.m.

Saint John's Episcopal Church

Norman, OK

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