Jean Christensen

Jean E. Christensen, age 77, of Litchfield died on Tuesday, September 9, 2008 at the Emmanuel Home in Litchfield. A memorial gathering for Jean will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at the Acacia Park Chapel in Mendota Heights, MN. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the memorial gathering at the Acacia Park Chapel. Interment will be held at the Acacia Park Cemetery, Mendota Heights, MN. Jean was born March 24, 1931, in Minneapolis, MN. She attended the public schools K through 12, graduating from Roosevelt High School in 1948. After high school she worked one year as a long distance operator for the Northwest Bell Telephone Company. In the summer of 1949, Jean, her brothers, and parents travelled to New York City by bus. There they boarded the ocean liner Queen Elizabeth for a nine-day journey to Europe. From the harbor of Southhampton, England they went by train to London where the family took in the sights of the city. From London they travelled again by train to Harwich, England where they boarded an overnight ferryboat to Esbjerg, Denmark. The four month trip included visiting relatives in many parts of Denmark and Germany. The voyage back to the United States was on the Queen Mary and lasted seven days. Jean’s memories of this trip lasted a lifetime. In the Fall of 1949, Jean went to Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. There she met Bruce. They attended Grand View College for two years ending in 1951. On August 19, 1951, they were married in Minneapolis. They moved to Pleasantville, Iowa where Jean taught first grade and Bruce attended Drake University. The next year they moved to Minneapolis where Jean taught first grade in Fridley and Bruce attended the University of Minnesota. In August of 1954, they moved to Tyler, Minnesota where Bruce began his teaching career and where they lived for eight years. During these eight years, all of their four children were born—Nancy in 1954, Sally in 1958, Bradley in 1959, and Ronald in 1962. In 1962, Jean and Bruce moved to Litchfield. In 1968, Jean graduated from St. Cloud State College. She taught in the Litchfield School District for ten years, teaching first, second, and third grade, and she was the librarian at Lake Ripley School for two years. Jean resigned from teaching in 1980 to try a new career. With Bruce’s help she opened a gift shop in the Kandi Mall in Willmar. In 1986, she closed the store, renewed her teaching certificate, and began substitute teaching. In 1978, Jean visited Denmark and Germany with her mother, and in 1980 she travelled with Bruce and his Litchfield Male Chorus to Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. In 1994, Jean became a Master Gardener and over the years completed many hours of volunteer work. She taught gardening classes for Community Education. She also took great interest in the Anderson Garden in Litchfield, working in the flower beds and serving on the planning committee. Jean’s children and grandchildren were the joy of her life. Jean is survived by her husband Bruce of Litchfield, MN; children Nancy (and Leland) Smith of Sauk Rapids, MN, Sally (and Tim Fisher) Paffrath of Alexandria, MN, Bradley Christensen of Alexandria, MN and Ronald (and special friend Beth Bontjes) Christensen of Waconia, MN; 10 grandchildren Angela (and Nathan) Shaefer, Aaron Smith, Justin Paffrath, Jacob (and Jamie) Paffrath, Shanna Paffrath, Judd Paffrath, Brianna Christensen and Spencer Christensen, Andrew Christensen and Julia Christensen; 2 great grandchildren Bryce and Brooklynn Paffrath; brothers Paul (and special friend Barbie Foder) Gantriis of South St. Paul, MN and Donald (and Lois) Gantriis of Richfield, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents Peter and Paula.