In Memory

Christopher Christensen

 

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

 
 



 
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11/22/10 08:02 PM #1    

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 

 


12/30/10 01:54 PM #2    

Christopher S. Meldrum

Post additional comments/memories at:

http://rememberingblue.blogspot.com/


07/18/11 02:40 PM #3    

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

 

 

 

 

April 18, 2009 

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 at Disneyland

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


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