|
Merle James Christiansen age 80, of Logan, Iowa passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2016 at Longview Nursing Home in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Merle was born October 5, 1935 to Andrew and Rose (Wiese) Christiansen in Kennard, Nebraska. Merle graduated from Kennard High School. Merle married Betty Rasmussen June 22, 1957 in Blair, Nebraska. They farmed west of Blair from 1957 until 1965, then they moved to Logan, Iowa where Merle still resided. He drove oil tanker and worked at a meat packing plant before farming full time. He was a member of the Eagles Club.
Merle was preceded in death by parents, wife Betty, brother: LaVerne.
Survivors include his daughter: Sandy Wrona of Omaha, Nebraska, sons: Greg Christiansen and wife Sally of Kennard, Nebraska, Gary Christiansen of Omaha, Nebraska, Mandy and Landy Dinsmore, Corrie Ryan and Kali Davis, and seven great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Sunday from 3: 00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Hennessey Funeral Home in Missouri Valley, Iowa.
The family would like to invite everyone to a time of lunch and fellowship to St. Paul Lutheran Church following the church service.
In Loving Memory Of
Merle James Christiansen
Born
October 5, 1935 Kennard, Nebraska
Entered Into Rest
January 28, 2016 Missouri Valley, Iowa
Funeral Service
10:00 a.m. Monday, February 1, 2016
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Missouri Valley, Iowa
Officiating Pastor Stephen Pera
Organist Carole Gorham
Taped Music Selections
“God Made A Farmer” “You Should Be Here”
Congregational
“This Is My Father’s World”
Casket Bearers
Landy Dinsmore, Larry Watson
Bill Fox, Harvey Ferris
Austin Fox Dick Jones
Final Resting Place
1:00 p.m. Monday
Prairie View Cemetery
Kennard, Nebraska
And on the 8th day God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker!”. So, God made a farmer!
It had to be somebody who’d plow deep and straight…and not cut corners. Somebody to seed and weed, feed and breed…and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk. Somebody to replenish the self feeder and then finish a hard days work with a five mile drive to church. Somebody who’d bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who’d laugh and then sigh…and then respond with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life “doing what dad does”. So, God made a farmer!
~~~Obituary courtesy of Hennessey Funeral Home, Missouri Valley, Iowa~~~ | 
