Rodger Christensen

Rodger “A” Christensen, 92, passed away at Valley View Specialty Care in Eldora, Iowa on December 5, 2020 due to existing medical pre-conditions and Covid-19 complications. Services for Rodger will take place on Saturday, December 12 at 2:00 P.M. at Union Community Church in Union, Iowa. A visitation will be held one hour prior, beginning at 1:00 P.M. All attendees are required to wear masks and practice social distancing. Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Rodger and his family. For additional questions or to leave a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Rodger was born March 12, 1928 in Neenah, WI to Hans and Bessie Christensen, the youngest of 4 children. The family moved to Chapin, Iowa in 1934. Upon taking an assembly line job at the Hampton Maytag plant, Hans relocated the family to Hampton, Iowa in 1940. Shortly after graduating Hampton High School in 1945, Rodger enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Rising to the rank of Corporal, Rodger served at the Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines, first as Lead Corporal of the Guard and later as Carpenter Shop Supervisor. After receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1948, Rodger returned to Iowa. Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, he attended linotype school in Charles City, Iowa. During that time, he met his future wife of 57 years Colleen Turner, who was working as a telephone switchboard operator at the Bell Telephone office. In 1950 the couple was joined in Holy Matrimony at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa.  After the honeymoon, Rodger began his career as a Linotype Operator at the Traer Star Clipper in Traer, Iowa.  After attaining additional Linotype training, Rodger continued his employment in Sterling, Colorado; Nora Springs, Webster City, and Des Moines, Iowa.  In 1960, Rodger joined the Marshalltown Times Republican, in Marshalltown, Iowa, where he continually worked until retirement in 1998. In addition to formal training received at the linotype school in Charles City, Rodger attended a Union printing school in Colorado Springs.  This later training resulted in his becoming one of the first in the new generation of Union members to be certified in computerized typesetting. Rodger and Colleen moved to Union, Iowa in 1996. His passion for reading and helping others translated into volunteer work at the Union Library. His duties were varied: driving the bus, sorting books and reading to children were just of few of his library activities.  As time progressed, he also provided rides for shopping or doctors’ visits, to other members of the Union community who were unable to drive. Rodger was a long-standing member of the International Typographical Union, the Union Community Church, the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elkhorn, Iowa, the Cedar Valley Danes of Cedar Falls, the American Legion, the Subic Bay Club and a post member of Kiwanis International.  His hobbies were woodworking, carpentry, fishing, and traveling. Left to cherish his memory are his three sons: Curtis "B" (Hope) Christensen of Miami, FL, Jon Jay (Debbie) Christensen of St. Louis, MO and Brian Scot (Janet) Christensen of Waterloo, IA; grandchildren: Joy Marie (John) Griffin of Columbia, MO, Eric Christensen of St. Louis, MO, Tyler James (Jolene) Christensen of Ankeny, IA, Celeste (Guillermo) Almaral, of Miami, FL and Sam Hutting of Miami, FL and great grandsons: William Hutting and Miguel Almaral. Preceding him in death was his wife Colleen Turner, parents Hans and Bessie Christensen and sisters: Goldie (Roger) Dillion, Julia (Walter) Mansell and Margaret Howard. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047 to see the livestream feed/upload.