Obituary of Barbara Jane Christenson

    Barbara Jane “Barb” Christenson was born in Ames, Iowa on November 9, 1944, the daughter of Vernon E. and Geraldine O. (Tucker) Peterson. She grew up in the Ellsworth, Iowa area and received her education there, graduating from Ellsworth High School with the class of 1962. She then attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, earning her BS in Home Economics Education in 1966. Following graduation from college, she taught at Oak Park, IL for one year.  

    On July 29, 1967, Barb was united in marriage to David O. Christenson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ellsworth. They began their life together in Ankeny, Iowa where Barb taught school while Dave was completing veterinarian training. They relocated to Orange City, Iowa, residing there for the next five years and adding sons, Stuart and Brent to their family. In 1973, they moved to Hartley, Iowa and welcomed their third son, Ryan. Together they would raise their family and spend the remainder of their married life here.

    While the boys were in school, Barb stayed involved in all their activities and found great satisfaction in creating a warm, safe place they could all call “home”. She took part in the HMS elementary volunteer program for many years while supporting Dave in various ways with his veterinary practice. She had also served on the boards of the Iowa State University Memorial Union as well as her own church - Hartley UMC, now Grace Fellowship - participating in many church, and community-related committees over the years. She had also belonged to the Tritonia Club and was a 50-year member of P.E.O. Even when some weeks got pretty full, schedules could be rearranged if it meant being able to attend the grandkids’ events or activities - either in person or virtually. The times they all spent together were precious treasures.

    Dave and Barb were both avid travelers and had managed to see all 50 states; many of them through the windshield of their RV - it practically became a second home. Taking Ephesians 2:8-10 to heart, the RV was not only used for pleasure, but served as their conveyance for 12 years of dedicated mission work with the NOMADS organization.

    Barb passed from this life on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at the age of 79 years. She now joins loved ones who had gone before: her parents and parents-in-law; her sister, Margaret Holt; sister-in-law, Joyce Wydrzynski; and brother-in-law, Paul Christenson.

    Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Dave Christenson of Hartley; sons: Dr. Stuart (Dr. Leslie) Christenson of Ames, Iowa, Brent (Dr. Kristy) Christenson of Chanhassen, Minnesota, and Rev. Ryan (Kristi) Christenson of Indianola, Iowa; seven grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Opal Fosterman and Sharon Christenson; brothers-in-law: Rich Holt, and Marc Christenson; other family and many friends.