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Gerald William Christenson

Gerald Christenson Obituary

Christenson,

Gerald William

Devoted Public Servant,

Husband, Father, and Grandpa

Age 75, of Arden Hills, Minn. Died peacefully of cancer Nov. 29, surrounded by his loving family. Preceded in death by daughter Kathy, brother Wally, and sister Dorothy Flynn. Survived by wife of 51 years, Pearl; daughters: Carol (Rick Plunkett), Becky, Karen (Craig Engwall); sons: Michael (Lis), Tom; grandchildren Will and Aria Christenson; Alex, Katie, and Luke Plunkett; Chris and Andrew Tolbert. Also survived by siblings Kate Merz, Bette (Will Mathias), Peggy (Roger Wald), Chuck, John (Yolanda), Paul, Henry (Maureen). Born in Litchfield, Minn, on April 9, 1930, to Marguerite and LeRoy Christenson, Jerry graduated from St. John's University in 1953, and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He enjoyed a distinguished career in federal and state government, but his lifelong love was teaching. In Jerry's life, meaning came from improving the lives of others. Public service allowed him, over four decades, to express his gratitude to the Litchfield teachers, the St. John's leaders and the citizens who, he believed, raised him from poverty.
He will be remembered for his steadfast commitment to doing what is right, to helping those without a voice, and to making the world a better place. Memorial service Monday, 7:00pm (visitation 5:00-7:00pm) at St. Mary's of the Lake Catholic Church, 4690 Bald Eagle Ave., White Bear Lake 55110. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Jerry Christenson Part-Time Student Scholar-ship Fund c/o MnSCU at 350 Wells Fargo Place, 30 East 7th St., Saint Paul, MN 55101. Please visit:

www.jerrychristensonmemorial.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Pioneer Press from Dec. 3 to Dec. 4, 2005.

Memories and Condolences
for Gerald Christenson

23 Entries

Jeanene(Jeanie) Shoultz Doran

November 4, 2015

For Mike C. and family of Jerry and Pearl,
From and old highschool friend of Jerry's and the entire Christenson family. Just learned of Jerry's induction into the LHS Hall of Fame.Strange, but I was reading his obit. last week and thought:"Jerry should be inducted into the LHS Hall of Fame" and this week it happened.
My greetings to your family, condolences on the recent loss of your Mother, Pearl.

Lee Meade

November 28, 2006

Now, a year after Jerry's passing, I still miss him. While he was in our midst, he did so many great things that he is not forgotten. I think of him often. At a Ripknees' basketball game at Concordia College, I looked across the court and thought I saw him seated in the front row. He was such a wonderful friend, it is unfortunate he could not be among us longer.

Mary Ellen and Whitey Johnson

January 8, 2006

Our Prayers and sympathy are with you all, Pearl I was sorry not to be near at this time. Tom our thought are with you, Love Mary Ellen and Whitey

Alix (Lexie) Craig McDowall

December 7, 2005

I was so fortunate to be taught by Gerald Christenson at Mounds View High School when I was an AFS student from New Zealand in 1960-61. Coming from a small country high school in NZ where we were taught to write and read for research but rarely to discuss and debate, he opened my mind to issues of racial tolerance and injustices, of political and social questions both in the US and the world and of relationships between people. Through his personality and his rapport with his students, he modelled what he taught. I looked forward to his classes every school day and his influence has been permanent in my life. I have taught and now work amongst at risk teenagers to enable them to access and stay in education. In 1975 I met again with Mr Christenson while he was working at the State Legislature and my strong impression of Minnesota after 14 years absence was that the Twin Cities had done many of the things that we had discussed and debated with Mr Christenson in Social Studies. While I had read of disruption and problems in other US cities - I came back to find that Minnesota had gone forward with many farsighted and innovative social programmes. While that seems to be characteristic of Minnesota as a state, I believe that Gerald Christenson's influence was there in a number of those programmes.

My sympathy and good wishes to Pearl Christenson and to the family of a wonderful man.

From Alix (Lexie) McDowall. nee Craig.

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Larry Borgen

December 6, 2005

As one of the initial members of Jerry's Certificate In Community College Teaching program, I can thank him for my current employment at Normandale Community College.

While he would say I earned it, it is clear without his help and inspiration, it doesn't happen.

Many people dream. Jerry turned dreams into reality. He did it the old-fashioned way. With enthusiasm, grit and determination.

I feel fortunate to have been touched by his greatness. He leaves a wonderful legacy. A homily I heard recently seemed to sum up the kind of advice Jerry might have given (and probably gave).

If Christ were to come today would you be ready? If not what changes do you need to make in your life? If you haven't made them, what are you waiting for?

Jerry was not only ready, but was dressed up for the occasion.

My sincere condolences to the family.

Colleen McEvoy Nelson

December 6, 2005

Dear Christenson family;

My deepest sympathy to all of you on the loss of your father and husband. Karen and Pearl you were a big support to our family when we lost our father a few years ago as well as when my brother died several years before that. I really admired your dad and everything he stood for. I know he's with Kathy and they're both watching over all of you.

Steve Erickson

December 5, 2005

I was a student of Jerry's at Mounds View during my Senior year (1964). I also visited him in Washington D.C. in 1968. I last saw him at the Mounds View reunion a year and a half ago. Of all the teachers I have ever had during college and law school and seminary, he impacted me the most with his challenges to think, to be compassionate and to understand why things were happening in the world. I can still see him leading a discussion on Martin Luther King. He will be missed, but not forgotten by all those who carry a piece of his influence.

Francesca Walker

December 5, 2005

I had the honor of being one of Uncle Ger's many nieces and nephews. Not until I was grown, and especially on his passing, did I become wawre of what an inspiration he was. He was a success as a brother, uncle, father and husband, as well as an educator and a public servant. My love to aunt Pearl and my cousins.

Lee Meade

December 5, 2005

Although I had known Jerry's death was imminent, one never is prepared for the loss of a life-long friend. We were schoolmates together and maintained our friendship from a distance throughout our lives. I remember my meetings with Jerry when he worked for Jack's Ben Franklin and I wrote for the Independent Review in Litchfield. We discussed my columns in the basement of Jack's on frequent Saturday afternoons. His passing was a great loss to Litchfield and the world in which he lived, always doing his best for those less fortunate than himself. I never heard him say a discouraging word to or about anybody. He was one of a kind for all of us to emulate.

Chuck Slocum

December 5, 2005

Mike and the Christenson family--Your father, whom I so enjoyed, provided good work and leadership. His life has made a positive difference for so maany Minnesotans. What a wonderful legacy to the family. He will be missed.

Michele Levenson

December 4, 2005

Mike:

I saw the notice in the paper and wanted to express my sincere sympathy to you and your family. While I never had the opportunity to know your father, I had the privilege of working for you. Clearly the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Your values, your commitment to providing a hand-up and making a difference in the world left a profound impression on me and a model that I have not seen duplicated. You give testimony to your dad’s accomplishments as a parent and honor to his legacy as a public servant and leader. My thoughts are with you during this time of sorrow.

Rita Ward

December 4, 2005

I remember the very young Jerry and Pearl in Long Prairie where Jerry was in the Social Studies Dept. with my late husband, Hedley. We were all in the beginning of life.

We left for Alaska and the Christiensen's for Mound. So long ago, but pleasant memories are still in my heart.

My deepest sympathy to you, Pearl, and your family.

Sincerely,

Rita Ward

Ruth and Earl Herring

December 3, 2005

Earl and I were honored to be friends and working partners with Gerry over the years. We appreciated his love of learning.

Thanks to you, Pearl, and family for sharing him with all of us for his many projects and ideas. What a guy!

margit donhowe

December 3, 2005

Jerry was my sister's father-in-law and he always greeted me with warmth and affection as though I were a part of his family. He showed up and offered support as we grappled with losses in our own family. I will be thinking of his family this next week as they deal with this tremendous loss so close to the loss of Jerry and Pearl's daughter, Kathy.

Norb Santoski

December 3, 2005

I first met Professor Christenson when I was in his three-semester course at the University of St. Thomas starting in 1994. Our cohort of 12 students participated that led to the Certificate in Community College Teaching in January 1996. Jerry was a fine educator who was creative, challenging, fair, interesting, energetic, and fun. I treasure having known him, and learning by his example. My prayers are with him and his family and associates.

Paul Wood

December 3, 2005

Jerry Christenson was my high school Social Studies teacher at Mounds View in 1961, but he remained an inspiration well beyond the time that I lived in Minnesota. His enthusiasm for the possibility of making social institutions humane and his personal encouragement to me to get involved in that process were very important to me. It was exactly his brand of optimism that makes me still proud to claim Minnesota as “Where I’m from”, even if it isn’t exactly biologically true. A short visit this past summer after a long absence from the Twin Cities was for me a reconnection with the spirit that I knew when I was his student, and for which I remain very grateful.

Kate Flynn

December 2, 2005

I had the great priviliege of being a relative of Ger's. His life and his work in education has and continues to be an inspiration to me. As his niece, and an educator in St. Paul Public Scools, his life in public service and love for children and education has inspired me to do the same. His legacy will live on in our hearts and minds, and his life has been a blessing to us all.

Lauren Brockway

December 1, 2005

The Christensons were our wonderful neighbors in Mounds View in the 1960's. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May God comfort you in this time of sorrow.

The Richard Brockway Family -- Verna, Lauren, Kathleen, Megan and Patrick

Barbara Stevens

December 1, 2005

Mr. Christenson was my social studies teacher. My parents, Warren and Marcy Hagel, were active DFLers. They new him well. We visited Mr. and Mrs. Christenson in their home when he worked in Washington DC. It was a very memorable trip for me. We saw the US Senate in action. I was very excited to see and hear Senator McCarthy speak on the floor that day. There were other impressive events such as that from that trip. My parents really liked Mr. Christenson for what he stood for in politics. Thank you for all your efforts Mr. Christenson!

My condolances to the family.

Rita Burch

December 1, 2005

I had the great privilege of meeting Jerry Christensen recently. Even in his final days, he was a teacher, an advocate for educating ALL of this country's children, and one of the best "Grandpas" I've ever met. My deepest condolences to his wife, children, grandchildren and friends. Jerry was a beacon of light in Minnesota education and public policy. His legacy will live on through his family, as well as through the millions of minds and hearts he inspired including mine.

Carolyn Vevea (Quinn)

December 1, 2005

We all have been blessed to be part of Ger's life. I take great pride in claiming him for a God Father, and cousin. His brilliance has touched more lives than he will ever know. God Bless and keep him.

Carolyn Vevea

Michele ZYWIEC

December 1, 2005

I am sending my deepest sympathy to your family. I was hired by your father 18 years ago fresh out of college and a single mother. I got married 6 month after being hired and my husband and I chose to have me home during summers for my daughter. Your father changed my job position from being full time to seasonal so I could balance my career and parenting. He wanted me to stay with MnSCu and not transfer to Inver Hills. My daughter is now a junior in college and told me this past summer how much she loved that I was always home in the summers and at home for her after school. Your father made this possible for my family. Thank you. I have nothing but respect for your fathers values in being a parent and education. Your father made such an impact on many Mn families. Sincerely, Michele Vasquez-Zywiec, Inver Hills Community College

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