Christopher James Christensen
Christopher James Christensen "Blue" Christopher James Christensen (Blue), 36, passed away unexpectedly at Zion's Ponderosa Ranch surrounded by his family on April 11, 2009. He touched the lives of many with his cheerful, exuberant personality and passion for life.Chris was the sixth child of Lynda Love and Richard Drew Christensen. He was born January 18, 1973 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chris graduated from Highland High School in 1991 where he made lifelong friends and enjoyed cheerleading. He carried this infectious enthusiasm to the University of Utah, where he was a member of the cheerleading squad and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history/sociology. Chris was an Eagle Scout and served an LDS mission in Denmark, where he loved the people and the land of his ancestors. Chris married Michelle Mansuy on February 28, 1997 in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of three children: Joe (8), Jack (6), and Kate (3) who absolutely adore their daddy. He served as a temple worker, Elder's Quorum President, scoutmaster, YM advisor, but the calling he loved most was teaching Gospel Doctrine in his current ward. At the time of his passing he was employed by Johnson and Johnson as a pharmaceutical rep. He will always be remembered for his love of life, his generosity, his tireless energy, his concern for everyone, and his ability to be a best friend. Chris was a man of many passions - Star Wars, Legos, Disneyland, the Academy Awards, Newport Beach, books, tech gadgets, temples, baseball but above all else his beloved Michelle, Joe, Jack, and Kate. He is survived by his wife; children; parents; brothers and sisters, Paul (Sylvia), Jennie Gochnour (Barney), William (Nanci), and Annie Jane Frazier (Jason); parents-in-law, Joe and Judy Mansuy; sisters-in-law, Allison Raemer (Corey) and Melanie Mansuy; and many loving nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by brothers, Thomas and David; nephew, Rocky; uncle, Michael, and grandparents, David and Ada Love, Drew and Maurine Christensen. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 12:00 noon at the Crescent Park Stake Center, 11350 So. 1000 E. Viewing will be held Friday evening, April 17, from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 So. and at the Stake Center from 10:00 to 11:40 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Christopher J. Christensen Children's Education Fund in care of Wells Fargo Bank would be appreciated. Online condolence www.larkincares.com
Benjamin Haslam
Christopher James Christensen (Blue), 36, passed away unexpectedly at Zion's Ponderosa Ranch surrounded by his family on April 11, 2009. He touched the lives of many with his cheerful, exuberant personality and passion for life.Chris was the sixth child of Lynda Love and Richard Drew Christensen. He was born January 18, 1973 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chris graduated from Highland High School in 1991 where he made lifelong friends and enjoyed cheerleading. He carried this infectious enthusiasm to the University of Utah, where he was a member of the cheerleading squad and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history/ sociology. Chris was an Eagle Scout and served an LDS mission in Denmark, where he loved the people and the land of his ancestors.
Chris married Michelle Mansuy on February 28, 1997 in the Salt Lake Temple. They are the parents of three children: Joe (8), Jack (6), and Kate (3) who absolutely adore their daddy. He served as a temple worker, Elder's Quorum President, scoutmaster, YM advisor, but the calling he loved most was teaching Gospel Doctrine in his current ward. At the time of his passing he was employed by Johnson and Johnson as a pharmaceutical rep.
He will always be remembered for his love of life, his generosity, his tireless energy, his concern for everyone, and his ability to be a best friend. Chris was a man of many passions - Star Wars, Legos, Disneyland, the Academy Awards, Newport Beach, books, tech gadgets, temples, baseball but above all else his beloved Michelle, Joe, Jack, and Kate.
He is survived by his wife; children; parents; brothers and sisters, Paul (Sylvia), Jennie Gochnour (Barney), William (Nanci), and Annie Jane Frazier (Jason); parents-in-law, Joe and Judy Mansuy; sisters-in-law, Allison Raemer (Corey) and Melanie Mansuy; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by brothers, Thomas and David; nephew, Rocky; uncle, Michael, and grandparents, David and Ada Love, Drew and Maurine Christensen.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 12:00 noon at the Crescent Park Stake Center, 11350 So. 1000 E. Viewing will be held Friday evening, April 17, from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn, 2350 E. 1300 So. and at the Stake Center from 10:00 to 11:40 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Christopher J. Christensen Children's Education Fund in care of Wells Fargo Bank would be appreciated. Online condolence www.larkincares.com.
Published in the Deseret News April 16, 2009
Christopher S. Meldrum
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Stephanie Stoker (Hall)
Here are two poems I wrote when Chris died--I wrote the first one after I found out, and the second one after the funeral.
April 12, 2009
For a friend who died too soon
I hadn’t seen him for years
but the shock of it
still stopped my heart for a moment
Younger than me by just one day
three little children (like mine)
and a wife I’ve never met
Where did he work?
What did he read?
What were his plans?
I never understand when they say
he was needed elsewhere—
could anyone need him more than his family?
My limited, earthly mind
selfishly clings to the familiar
but now he sees the whole picture
Most high school memories are dim
but I still see him charging down the halls
boundless energy, larger than life
His gift to all of us
was to make us laugh
and bring us joy
Our gift to him
will be to pass on his joy
and remember
I want to be like Chris
At his funeral today I alternated
between tears of heartbreak
and tears of laughter
I was so glad I’d thought
to bring the extra package of tissues
as I passed them down the row
I don’t know how they did it
siblings, wife, little sons
gave the most amazing tributes
drawing on a source
of unbelievable strength
leaning on each other
remembering his interrupted life
If I died right now
what would my children say about me?
“my favorite thing about my mom
is that she was very organized”
“I loved her editing skills”
“she made the best to-do lists ever”
“the laundry was always folded perfectly”
“she really knew how to keep us in line”
I can change
I can live more like Chris did
I want to
have family movie night
sleeping in the basement together
I want to
give out more “awesomes”
I want to
stay with my kids
when they’re scared of the dark
I want to (maybe)
ride ALL the rides atDisneyland
but mostly
I want to
love bigger, love better, love often
treasure
the things that really matter
(just a few things really matter)
you never know when they’ll be
gone