Robert Allen Christensen, 79, of Cherokee, Iowa passed away on July 14, 2023 at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center burn unit in Lincoln Nebraska, due to severe burns sustained from a fire five weeks prior.
Robert was born on Tuesday, July 27, 1943, in Exira, Iowa. He is the son of the late Nels Christen Christensen and Anna Marie (Lund).
On June 27, 1964 he married Nadine Hall at Elmwood, Nebraska. Matthew Allen Christensen was born to this union. Melissa was welcomed into the family by adoption in 1970. They divorced in about 1971.
On July 13, 1974, Robert married Maralyn Viola in Las Vegas, NV. Melanie Lynn was born to this union. On Wednesday, July 31, 2013, he was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Maralyn.
Robert attended Exira public schools and graduated with the class of 1961. He furthered his education at Boyles & Van Sant in Omaha for two years of business and accounting classes. He became vice president of Operations for Lundell Manufacturing in Cherokee, Iowa and retired from that business.
His love of the land and outdoors contributed to his hobbies of fishing, hunting and traveling. He purchased the farm that his grandfather Peter Jensen Lund had purchased. He always loved being on the farm, tinkering with motors, doing home improvement projects to transform his childhood home to a hunting lodge which saw many good times with family and friends.
Robert was a family man who tried to keep the extended family together by hosting the biannual family reunion of the Christensen and Lund families in Cherokee. He was always extremely positive, outgoing and friendly, had a great sense of humor, enjoyed teasing and having fun! He was an inspiration to us all on how a life should be lived! He loved spending time on the family farm. He enjoyed country music and was able to attend a few Alan Jackson and Rodney Atkins concerts with his wife, daughter and grandsons. He enjoyed traveling with several trips to Italy (Maralyn’s heritage). Numerous fishing trips to Canada sometimes twice a year! Several trips to Las Vegas, Texas, Arizona, California, Tennessee, Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, Washington, New York, South Dakota, Route 66, Europe, Mexico and Caribbean cruises, etc…you name it he has probably been there!
Left to cherish Robert’s memory are two daughters, Melissa and her husband Mark Leeds of Cherokee, Iowa and Melanie and Gaylen Graybill Jr. of Marion, Iowa. Three sisters, Lois Pfeiffer of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Marjorie Hansen of Exira, Iowa, and Violet Rush of Atlantic, Iowa; nine grandchildren, Rubi and husband Jediah Van Unen, of Casey, Iowa; Kasandra, Katelyn, Kyle, Kaiden, and Alex Leeds of Cherokee. Tyler Christian Matthew Graybill, Chase Graybill, Dylan Graybill all of Marion, Iowa. Also surviving, his great granddaughter Riley Van Unen. His companion Deanna Firebaugh of Pottsboro, TX, and her family, Terry (Debbie), Teresa (Scott) and Kimela (Wes) along with their families. Sister-in-law Doris Christensen of Audubon, brother-in-law Bob and wife Pat Jensen of Omaha, Arkansas. Very special friends whom are like family, John and Darla Linquist and family. As well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Robert Allen was preceded in death by one son, Matthew Allen Christensen; his parents, seven siblings: four infant brothers Virgil, John, Dale and Darrel; siblings Dallas Christensen, Dorothy Lebeck, and Erma Jensen of Audubon. In-laws Ralph and Betty Viola, Donald Lebeck, Galen Hansen, and Jim Rush, his four Danish immigrant grandparents, Christen Jensen Christensen and wife Sofia (Andersen) Christensen of Lake Benton, Minnesota and Peter Jensen Lund, and wife Karen Kirstine (Nielsen) Lund of Exira, Iowa. Also, a dear special cousin James Madsen and family of Heltonville, Indiana.
The family will gather with friends for food and fellowship on Saturday, September 2, 2023, from 12:00 noon until 1:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Center (104 East Washington Street) in Exira, Iowa. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted by Pastor Mark Leeds Saturday afternoon September 2, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Center followed by inurnment in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa.
