Funeral services for 96 year old Margaret Rose Christensen of Harlan, Iowa, will be held Monday, February 6, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, Iowa. Burial will be in the Jacksonville Cemetery. Visitation is Monday, February 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Jacksonville. Pauley Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Rose Christensen, née Darnell, was called to be home with her Lord on Monday, January 30, 2023. Margaret, the daughter of George Calvin and Hester Susan (Hewitt) Darnell, was born on April 23, 1926 in Holt County, Nebraska. A gentle, kind, and generous lady, Margaret was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend to many.
She came to Iowa in 1942 and lived in the Audubon area. She was baptized and confirmed at Ebeneezer Lutheran Church in Audubon County in 1945. Graduating from Audubon High School with a Normal Training Teacher’s Certificate in 1943, she began teaching at the age of 17 in Douglas Township, Audubon County. Margaret and Orvie Emmet Christensen were married December 13, 1945 in Atlantic, Iowa. They started their farming career in Guthrie County, Iowa. After five years they moved to a farm formerly known as the Clover Leaf Stock Farm in Jackson Township, Shelby County, Iowa where they raised their seven children. The couple lived here until 2020 when they moved to Hansen House Assisted Living.
Margaret was a busy farm wife. She tended a big garden, canned and froze foods, baked delicious pies and breads and was an excellent cook. Numerous guests found her a welcoming and gracious hostess with a sunny, quiet disposition. She was always ready to listen and help, with an open door and a meal to share.
Margaret became interested in genealogy in the 1970’s and spent the next 40 years researching and compiling books of her and Orvie’s family history and life on the farm. She was instrumental in helping to start the family history center at the Danish Museum in Elk Horn, Iowa and received an award for 1000 volunteer hours. She enjoyed helping others with research, making countless new friends across the country. She was considered a genealogy expert and an articulate writer who co-authored or contributed to local community history books as well as compiling a dozen or more Darnell/Christensen ancestry books. She enjoyed traveling to various states, cemeteries, history centers, courthouses and any other place she thought may provide research information to discover more facts about the family’s ancestral history.
Her deep faith centered her life. Margaret and Orvie were long time members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Iowa. She enjoyed reading, writing, playing cards and puzzles and kept in touch with dozens of friends and extended family.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband of 75+ years, Orvie; her parents George and Hester (Hewett) Darnell, parents-in-law Nels Ejnar and Martha (Hansen) Christensen, son Michael Jon (1958-1977), brothers Donald, Delbert and Darrell Darnell, sisters Dorothy Benson and Mildred Hull, brothers-in-law Clifford and Dale Christensen.
Left to cherish her memory are her 6 children Kathlyn Janelle (Timothy) Hansen of Clarinda, Marilyn Mardelle Weddum of Atlantic, Evelyn Jean Madsen of Grimes, Orvie Lee “Toby” of Kimballton, Mark Eugene (Cindi) of Polk City, and Thomas Kevin of Kimballton. Also surviving are her sisters-in-law Mary Johnson of Council Bluffs, and Joyce Christensen of Coon Rapids; grandchildren Kristin Weddum, Todd (Shelli) Weddum, Bradley (Jenny) Madsen, Amanda (Justin) Fletcher, Luke (Heather) Hansen, Zach Redman and Nickolas Christensen, as well as 10 great grandchildren and 4 great, great grandchildren.
Margaret was beloved to her family and will be greatly missed. May God grant comfort to those who mourn.
