James Christensen

JAMES CHRISTENSEN

Iowa City

James E. Christensen, 76, died peacefully Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at Hospice of the Valley in Mesa, Ariz. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service with the Rev Stephen Witt. Burial will be at Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Hospice.

James "Jim" was born Aug. 26, 1937, in Iowa City, the son of Elvig "Whitey" and Marian Brown Christensen. He was a graduate of City High School and served in the Army National Guard. On Nov. 7, 1959, Jim married Gladys Tomas in Canton, Mo.

Jim was employed for 31 years at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics as a maintenance manager.

Jim was a member of Iowa City Elks, the Eagle Lodge, Loyal Order of Moose, West Branch Golf Course and the American Legion.

Jim enjoyed golf, woodworking, traveling, hunting, Iowa Hawkeyes, St. Louis Cardinals (attending two World Series and all three Busch Stadiums) and wintering in Arizona, leaving behind many special "Good Life" friends.

Survivors include his loving wife, Gladys; and their five children, Deborah (Barry) Cunningham of Emporia, Kan., Jeff Christensen of Dallas, Texas, Mike Christensen (Shannon Sprock) of Bowling Green, Mo., Jamee Christensen (Kevin Kirchner) of Cedar Rapids and Jodi (Mark) Schulz of Iowa City; 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three siblings, Karen Gatlin of Albuquerque, N.M., Edward Christensen of Macomb, Ill., and Judy (Tim) Putney of West Liberty.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and son, Kevin.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at

www.lensingfuneral.com.