John E. Christenson

John E. Christenson, age 71, of Grants Pass, Oregon, passed away June 2, 2024, at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon.

John led a rich and diverse life, shaped by his experiences as a “military brat” which took him to various locations across the globe, including England, West Virginia, Florida, Washington DC, and Georgia.

As an adult, John resided in Massachusetts, Washington State, Texas, Minnesota, and Missouri, and finally settled in Oregon in November 1995 from Albertville, Minnesota. He pursued his education at West Springfield High in West Springfield, Virginia where he played soccer very competitively. He was recruited for the football team because of his soccer skills but only played briefly for personal reasons. He furthered his studies at Curry College, Framingham State University for his bachelor's degree, and the University of Minnesota. While in college, John was on the dorm council, yearbook staff, and the college paper.

John also proudly served in the US Army Reserve in Worcester, Massachusetts, and Seattle, Washington; and enlisted from 1974 to 1982 as a Registered Nurse with the MOS of 91C10 and earned the rank of Specialist E4 before being honorably discharged. He LOVED and cherished his time in the US Armed Forces which he demonstrated through extending a helping hand to fellow veterans.

Following his military service, John embarked on a successful career in sales working with various companies providing essential medical supplies. Beyond his professional endeavors, John was deeply involved in volunteer work with The Boy Scouts of America as a Scoutmaster, board member, and merit badge counselor and helped on many Eagle’s Projects throughout the valley. As an avid gun enthusiast and shooter, John was a Josephine County Sportsman’s Association Gun Range member. John also volunteered at Rogue Community College as an automotive advisor.

In addition to his professional and volunteer commitments, John had a wide range of hobbies including hunting, shooting at the range, road trips, camping, canoeing, auto repair, teaching, history especially military-centric, genealogy, model building, aviation, and photography. His generosity extended across his lifetime through numerous donations and contributions made to various organizations and individuals, including Friends of Scouting and Scout Camp scholarships. He also donated vehicles to people in need of transportation and volunteered hours of car repair training, parts, and repair to benefit his friends and neighbors wherever he lived. He spent time researching reloading which MANY people, organizations, and companies nationwide benefitted from. John also made generous donations to Framingham State University.

John is survived by his loving wife of 26 years Judith Lynn Parham-Christenson of Grants Pass, OR; children Sarah Nelson, her Husband Thom, and their 2 children Austin and Carter of Otsego, MN, Amy Fox, her husband Jason, and their child Dominic of Big Lake, MN, Lisa Pavlik, her husband Matt, and their 2 children Brandon and Akira of Otsego, MN, and Jonathan Christenson of Grants Pass, OR; Children by marriage Daniel Parham of Grasston, MN, Nicholas Parham and his Children Hayden and Lucas of Rogers, MN; youngest brother Robert Ray Jr.  of Sandy Springs, GA

John is preceded in death by his middle brother Donnie Mann, mother Louis Kato, stepfather Ernest Mann, stepfather Robert Ray, stepfather Akira Edward Kato, and biological Father Alan Corderman.