Christensen, Floyd A.

Floyd A. Christensen, 88, formerly of West Branch, died at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. There will be no services. Iowa Cremation is entrusted with arrangements.

Floyd is survived by his wife, Darlene; children, Heidi (John) Harriman of Cedar Rapids and Chris Christensen of Norwalk; grandchildren, Chloe and Hillary Harriman and Tucker and Dylan Christensen; and a sister, Dorothy Blaha of Cedar Rapids.

Floyd was born Dec. 2, 1924, in Iowa City, to Aage and Ebba Christensen. He graduated from West Branch High School in 1942. He was revered in the early 1940s and known as “Speed Christensen” during his football career. He was slated for the backfield at the University of Iowa alongside Nile Kinnick. His football career was cut short when he was drafted during World War II. Floyd entered the U.S. Army in 1943, serving in the 83rd Infantry Division. While serving, he received the Bronze, Victory and Silver Star medals for the Normandy Campaign. He was discharged in 1945. Floyd farmed in the West Branch area. He was married to Darlene Marcusson. He retired from the Herbert Hoover Library and moved to Cedar Rapids. The last three years he has resided at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

Floyd was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, West Branch, and Cedar Hills Community Church, Cedar Rapids, and American Legion Post 0514.

Memorials may be directed to the Iowa Veterans Home.

The family would like to thank the physicians and staff at the Iowa Veterans Home for the wonderful care he received.

Online condolences may be sent to iowacremation.com under obituaries.

Published Feb. 3, 2013 in The Gazette