James E. Christianson

James E. Christianson, 81, of Bode, passed away June 20, 2011 at the Lakeside Lutheran Home in Emmetsburg, Iowa.  Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode with the Rev. Steve Bliss officiating.  Interment will be in St. Olaf Cemetery with full military rites by the Bode American Legion.  Visitation will be from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Saturday at the church.  The Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home of Bode is in charge of arrangements.

James Everett Christianson, the son of Arthur and Esther (Rolland) Christianson, was born July 28, 1929 on a farm near Bode, Iowa.  He was raised and educated at Bode and graduated from Bode High School.  Jim served in the United States Army Artillery in Korea during the Korean War.  Following his discharge, he returned home and went to work in the family’s trucking and corn shelling business.  He was united in marriage to Eleanor Cody in February 1956 at Cylinder, Iowa and to this union 5 children were born.  The family made their homes throughout the Midwest and south as Jim worked in the agricultural services industry in many capacities for 35 years.  Upon his retirement 23 years ago, Jim and Eleanor returned to Bode to live among the friends and family, which he loved the most.

Jim enjoyed caring for his loving wife and partner, his children, and his grandchildren.  He visited them across the country as often as he could.  He also enjoyed gardening, his fruit trees, bird watching, helping others, cooking, golfing, and playing cards with friends.  He was a very active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, serving in many different capacities throughout his life.  He took great pride in his family and his Norwegian heritage.

Jim leaves a legacy of highly successful children and grandchildren whose future will honor he and Eleanor.  He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Eleanor; children, Joel (Jenny) Christianson of Atlanta, GA, Kevin (Julie) Christianson of Bloomington, IL, Kent (Karen Goldberg) Christianson of Seattle, WA, and Amy (Carl) Liebert of Alamo Springs, CA; 19 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; son-in-law, Tim Geist of Arizona; brothers, Richard (Jeanette) Christianson of Humboldt, Virgil (Alice) Christianson of California, Don (Marilyn) Christianson of Bode, and Rolland (Melinda) Christianson of Florida; sister, Ardis Larson of Arizona; and brother-in-law, Sam French if California;  He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Valerie Geist; granddaughter, Alden Liebert; and sisters, Bernice French and Ruth Christianson.