Arthur "Art" Chris Christensen

Arthur “Art” Chris Christensen, 93, of Grants Pass, died Saturday, April 9, 2011 in Grants Pass.

A memorial service will be held at Newman United Methodist Church at 1 pm., Saturday, April 30, 2011. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.since1928hull.com. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Newman United Methodist Church, 132 NE B St., Grants Pass, OR 97526.

Art was born August 30, 1917 in Missouri Valley, Iowa, the oldest of three children. He grew up on a farm where he helped with the chores and enjoyed hunting with his two dogs and playing baseball. He often helped his father who worked as a mason.

He moved to Santa Monica, CA in his early twenties to attend diesel mechanics school, but he ended up going to work for Douglas Aircraft where he spent 12 years. He attended the Methodist Church where he met Louise Wilken who was to become his wife. They married on February 14, 1943, a union that was to last for 68 years. While in Southern California the Christensen's had four children and Art built the first of three houses.

In 1952 the family moved to Grants Pass where he opened Art's Farm Equipment Co. Later this business was sold to Nooks Naumes, owner of Naumes Equipment Company of Medford. He stayed on as manager of the Grants Pass store until his retirement in 1980.

Art and Louise built their final house on the Rogue River over a period of two years, completing it in 1973. He grew a wonderful garden, fished in the river and especially enjoyed feeding the wood ducks down by the riverside. He also enjoyed horseshoe pitching, bowling, golf, hunting, camp hosting on the Oregon coast and puttering around his home on the river. Art spent time volunteering with the Boy Scouts, participating with the Grants Pass Rotary Club, delivering meals on wheels and ushering for the Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife Louise Christensen; three sons, James Christensen of Puyallup, WA, Larry Christensen of Portland, OR and Dana Christensen of Grants Pass; daughter Joyce Leonard of Colville, WA; 6 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and 2 great great grandchildren.

Art was preceded in death by his sister Irene Lambert, brother Bob Christensen and grandson Charles Christensen.