Robert H. Christiansen

Robert Henry Christiansen was born September 18, 1926, in Denison, Iowa, the son of Henry and Mollie Petersen Christiansen. He passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2020, at Maple Heights Nursing Home in Mapleton, Iowa, at the age of ninety-three.
Bob was baptized into Christ October 12, 1926, at Zion Lutheran Church in Denison and confirmed his faith at that same church April 18, 1943. Bob served his country during World War II. On December 28, 1944, he was drafted into the United States Army, taking his basic training at Fort Ruker in Alabama. From there, he went to Fort Ord in California where he left by ship from San Francisco to the Philippines and then on to Japan. Bob was honorably discharged at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, November 16, 1946, and returned to Denison. In 2009, Bob was honored to be among some of his fellow vets on the Honor Flight to Washington D.C., for a day of remembrance and fellowship, for his participation in World War II.
Bob received his education in the Denison Community Schools and graduated from Denison High School in 1946 after his discharge from the Army. Bob continued his education at Upper Iowa University in the fall of 1947, where he played football for four years serving as captain his senior year. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree, he was employed as a salesman for Tenhulzen Feed. He then taught school at Galva and was an assistant coach for ten years then taught in the Schleswig school system for twelve years.
On May 24, 1953, Bob was united in marriage to Artis Schwarz at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Schleswig, Iowa. The couple made their home in Schleswig and was blessed with the birth of two daughters, Kay and Mary Jo. Bob was very active in the community serving on the Schleswig Fire Department for fifteen years, was a member of the Schleswig City Council and a member of the VFW and American Legion, and served as an elder at Immanuel Lutheran Church. In his leisure time, Bob enjoyed fishing in Minnesota every year and hunting with bow and arrow. He loved music and dancing with his wife, and was a good story teller.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Helen Bryant, Adeline Ettleman and Lucille Brown; and two brothers, Raymond and Charles Christiansen. Survivors include: his wife, Artis Christiansen of Mapleton, Iowa; two daughters, Kay Wilken and her husband, Neil of Schleswig, Iowa, and Mary Jo Jessen and her husband, Robert of Mapleton, Iowa; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.