Lloyd Christensen

Lloyd S Christensen, 91, of Cumberland, Iowa, passed away Sunday, June 22, 2014, at his home in Cumberland.

He was born April 19, 1923, to Harry and Vera (Stier) Christensen in Cumberland, Iowa. Lloyd was raised in the Cumberland area and attended White Union Country School until the 8th grade. He then attended Cumberland High School and graduated with the class of 1941. He was united in marriage to Norma Anderson on June 15, 1946, in Troy, Kansas. Norma and Lloyd lived in Atlantic, Iowa, for the first two years of their marriage, then they moved to the Christensen family farm, northwest of Cumberland.

Lloyd, or Chris as many called him, was an honest, friendly, hard-working, kind man who possessed a great sense of humor and loved his family and his life as a farmer. When he was young, he worked for Ran Christensen on his garbage route and helped his grandfather, Henry Stier, paint houses and buildings. In September, 1946, Lloyd, John Becker, Merlin Schaaf and Delmar Berg spent time in South Dakota thrashing wheat, oats, flax and barley. He also worked at Henningsen's and Worthington Hatchery for a time.

For many years he took his family to the Sidney, Iowa, Rodeo and, even recently, sometimes still enjoyed watching rodeos on TV. When Linda was young, she would be sent to bed early on Verne Gagne wrestling night so he could wake her to watch with him when it came on TV. He still enjoyed watching Lawrence Welk every Saturday night, and Trains and Locomotives.

In his younger years, he did trucking to the Omaha Stockyards for Ewalt Jensen, Floyd Gerlock and Claude Graham. Sometimes, these jobs took him to St. Joe and Maryville, MO. This was not work to him but brought him great enjoyment! He later bought a truck of his own and continued trucking.

He was a frequent visitor to all the area sale barns. Not usually looking to buy anything other than a good meal, a great piece of homemade pie and a cup of coffee. He also enjoyed his annual treks to Shell Rock, Iowa, for the Epley Seed Days. David and Dale often accompanied him and John Becker to Shell Rock. He always enjoyed his coffee, pie and ice cream, or any other dessert for that matter, at the local restaurants with his friends and neighbors. David and Dale were still getting him to "coffee" with his friends up until his stroke on May 30th. We always joked, when taking any trip with Dad you might as well plan on making lots of coffee stops, and because of this, being late wherever you were headed!

He enjoyed his family and all the "little ones", as he called them, asking what they were doing and keeping up with what was going on with everyone. Even though he hadn't been actively farming for several years, David and Dale always kept him updated with what they had planned for the day and what was done. He enjoyed all the furry friends he had over the years and, recently, watching from his kitchen window, the wrens, rabbits and his potatoes growing by the garage.

Lloyd is survived by his daughter, Linda L. Shafer and her husband, Larry M. Shafer of Atlantic; 2 sons, David L. Christensen and Dale L. Christensen, both of rural Cumberland; 2 granddaughters, Jennifer J. (Brian) Richter and their children Hannah J. Richter, Abbigael C. Richter and Madeline F. Richter all of Adair, IA, and Amy L. (Jon) Lange and their children, Kiefer M. Lange and Makenna C. Lange all of Concordia, MO; his nieces and nephews: Janice (Richard) Anderson of Omaha, NE, Jill Anderson of Omaha, NE, Jeff (Kristen) Anderson and their children, Samantha and Matt all of Omaha, NE, Dean (Cheryl) Christensen of Cumberland, IA, Cheri (Brad) Chester and their children Austin, Mason and Brayden all of Massena, and Nick (Mandy) Christensen and their children, Grant and Ryan all of Cumberland; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, cousins, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vera and Harry Christensen; his wife, Norma; and his brother, Ross (Esther) Christensen.
There is no scheduled visitation.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 27, 2014, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, with burial in the Atlantic Cemetery.

A funeral luncheon will be held at the United Church of Christ, 1607 Hazel St., Atlantic, Iowa, after the committal service.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.hockenberryfamilycare.com.