Doris Marie (Andersen) Christensen, age 85, of Audubon, Iowa, died at her home in Audubon on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. She was born on 19 April 1941, in Audubon Township, and was the daughter of Edvard Kristian “Ed K.” Valdemar Andersen and Dorothy Isabelle (Lacy) Andersen of Audubon, Iowa. She attended country school in Audubon Township and Douglas Township and graduated with the Audubon High School class of 1959.
She was baptized, confirmed, and married on September 18, 1960, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. They lived in several places until they moved to Doris’s home place in March 1968. They chose to transfer to Ebenezer Lutheran Church as part of the neighborhood. On 19 April 1996, her 55th birthday, she was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Dallas Gene Christensen.
Her faith was very important in her life. She was known for her hugs by everyone at church and elsewhere, even earning the moniker “DHC,” aka Doris Hugger Christensen! She was very active in several church and community organizations: the Ebenezer women’s groups and quilting for missions, Audubon’s genealogy society, the General Federation of Women, the Exira Garden Club, a quilting group, and others. She followed the community’s youth and cheered them on. Doris was an excellent cook and used her talents at several jobs, most recently at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed quilting, baking, writing letters, and keeping scrapbooks. She was so pleased to get about 115 birthday cards and letters for her 85th birthday in April! She was especially known for her cherry and prune strips, which she furnished for many, many funerals. Her green thumb was apparent in her extraordinary ability to grow beautiful violets. She was even asked to “doctor” some when their owners weren’t having such good luck!
Doris is survived by four children, Donna Thomas and her husband, Dr. John Thomas, Jr., of Papillion, Nebraska; Diane Wakelin and her husband, Rev. James Howard Wakelin, of Moravia, Iowa; Dalton and wife Marcia of Audubon; and Duane and wife Kristle of Huron, SD. She was a wonderful grandma to eight grandchildren, Jessica Matthews of Omaha, Stephen Wakelin of Ottumwa, Brandon Thomas of Seattle, WA, Jason Thomas of Lincoln, NE, Dakota Christensen and his wife Kari of Murray, Iowa. Wyatt Christensen and his wife, Kelsi of Hamlin, Nickolas and Kameron Christensen of Huron, SD. Six great-grandchildren: Aaron, Vincent, and Brynlee Wakelin of Ottumwa. Russell Christensen of Omaha, Adelaide Matthews of Omaha, and Knox Christensen of Hamlin. Her sisters-in-laws, Lois Pfeiffer of Lake Havasu, Arizona, and Violet Rush of Atlantic. Many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Doris was preceded by her parents, siblings, and their spouses; Esther and Dale Rutherford of Elk Horn, and John Edward Andersen and wife Sandy of Hiawatha, Iowa; granddaughter Amanda Nicole Wakelin; and great-granddaughter Callie Michelle Wakelin. Also, her in-laws, Nels Christen Christensen and Anna Marie (Lund) Christensen. Dorothy and Don Lebeck, Robert and Maralyn Christensen, Erma Jensen, Marjorie and Galen Hansen, and Jim Rush.
Public visitation with the family will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Audubon, IA.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2026, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, IA, with Rev. Sheryl Puderbaugh officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow the funeral.
A burial will follow the luncheon at the Ebenezer Cemetery, west of Audubon, IA.
Memorials may be directed to the Christensen Family, to be designated at a later date in memory of Doris. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 201, Audubon, IA 50025.
The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Audubon is caring for the Christensen family at this time and condolences can be sent at: schmidtfh.com
