Melissa Ann "Missy" Christman

Melissa Ann "Missy" Christman (née Payton)
December 2, 1966 – October 25, 2025
Melissa Ann "Missy" Christman, age 59, of Appleton, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. She was born on December 2, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois, to Judith (Kivi) Payton.
Missy attended the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point and built a distinguished career centered on continuous improvement. She most recently served as Manager of Continuous Improvement at The Boldt Company in Appleton. Throughout her career, she was admired for her skill, dedication, and generosity as a coach and mentor. Missy touched the lives of countless colleagues across several local companies, earning deep respect and lasting friendships along the way.
Missy is survived by her loving husband, Gregory Christman, and their children Bradley (Candace) Christman, Matthew (Ceanna) Christman, Rebecca (Adam) Cichy, and James Christman. She was a proud and devoted grandmother to Lillian Christman and Theodore Cichy, with two more beautiful babies on the way whom she will lovingly watch over from Heaven above. She is also survived by her sister, Heidi Kivi, and her mother Judith (Kivi) Payton.
Melissa truly loved traveling with her husband Greg, especially cruising the Caribbean, camping in her Minnie Winnie, and kayaking and fishing in Wisconsin's beautiful state parks. Her favorite vacation, as she often said, "was the one she was on at the time." She cherished relaxing on her deck, overlooking her backyard oasis filled with flowers and a thriving vegetable garden. Above all, Missy loved spending time with her "littles," her beloved grandchildren. Though deeply saddened to miss the arrival of her next two, her family finds comfort knowing she will be watching over them with love.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, November 2nd, at Buboltz Nature Preserve, indoors. (4815 N Lynndale Dr, Appleton, WI 54913 - Phone: (920) 731-6041). Service will be held at 12 (noon), and we will have light refreshments available for all afterward until 2 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Melissa's name to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to support breast cancer research (www.nationalbreastcancer.org) or Harbor House (https://harborhousewi.org/) A Safe Harbor in Times of Crisis, one of her favorite charities.
Missy's warmth, laughter, and boundless love will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her legacy of kindness, hard work, and joy will live on in the hearts of those she touched.