LELAND DALE CHRISTENSEN

Christensen, Leland Dale, born Ord, Nebraska, Jan 17, 1923, died Newport Beach, California Oct 29, 2009. Leland Christensen grew up in Neligh, Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska for two years. In 1942, he was drafted into the Army in the Combat Engineers. He was on his way to enter in the fierce fighting of WWII in the Pacific when he was told that he was eligible to go to the United States Military Academy at West Point. While at West Point he was the Cadet Brigade Officer on the staff of the First Captains with many special assignments. He ran the high hurdles on the Army Track Team and held the world's record in that sport. He participated in track meets at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Graduation from West Point was in 1947. He then joined the Air Force. In 1948-1949 he attended Purdue University and earned a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering. From 1952-1955 he was stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany. This was during the Cold War with the USSR. In 1954 the American fighter planes defending Western Germany and Europe were grounded due to cracked tailpipes. He was given the task of finding a facility to make the repairs as soon as possible. He was successful in this and greatly helped our country and the free world in a different situation. In 1958 he resigned from the Air Force in order to continue his career in research and development. He worked for Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, California for six years, working on many special projects. Then in 1965 he went to work for Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, California working under his former commanding officer from Europe. In 1973 he left Douglas to form his own company General Structures, and did work for NASA and other groups. His specialty being composites and lighter structures. Eventually he applied this to boat building. From 1973 he was a member of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa. Up until almost the end of his life he was able to participate as an usher on Sundays. This was a great blessing to him. He died peacefully in his home in Newport Beach. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan; two sons, Read and David; three daughters, Dione, Claire and Anne; and three grandchildren. He was laid to rest at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, Ca. Pacific View Mortuary