Theodore James Christensen

Mass of Christian Burial for Theodore James Christensen, 81, of West Okoboji, will be 10:30 am Saturday, September 24, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Milford. Theodore James Christensen, a great husband, father, grandfather, mentor and avid sportsman: passed away on August 22, 2016 due to complications from lymphoma, his loving family by his side. He was 81 years old. Ted was born March 15th, 1935 in the small farming town of Milford, Iowa. Ted and his brother were raised by a single mother, who worked as a seamstress to make ends meet. His upbringing taught the value of hard work, education, savings, and living within your means. In high school, Ted was selected as salutatorian and offered athletic scholarships to multiple universities. Financial hardship at home prevented him from attending university. Ted married his high-school sweetheart and they moved to Oxnard, CA. He joined the Oxnard Fire Department and rose through the ranks, ultimately to Fire Chief of the Department. As a young firefighter and union liaison, Ted spearheaded and helped win significant wage and benefit improvements that many firefighters continue to enjoy today. As an administrator, Ted felt a great responsibility in effectively managing public funds. He proved this as project manager for the construction of numerous satellite fire houses, successfully completing them on time, without project overruns, and either at-or-under budget. Ted was blessed with an exceptional intellect, combined with a self-deprecating sense of humor. He had an uncanny ability to recall amusing anecdotes and weave them into just about any conversation. A dedicated fan of auctions and garage sales, Ted was always on the lookout for a good deal, tools, or just one more fishing rod/reel that might possibly "complete" his collection. His finds would make their way to his garage, where to the casual observer, it might have appeared "cluttered". Yet he had painstakingly sorted, organized and cataloged his treasures so he could eventually retrieve them when needed. As father and husband, he was always there for his family, no matter what stage of life, for whatever reason. He gave us the freedom to make mistakes, yet was always there to catch us if we fell. Ted also loved to play poker, and looked forward to the weekly card game with his friends. Ted is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Ann; his three children, Jackie, Doug, and Becky; Doug's wife Christine and Becky's husband Rick. He was the proud grandfather of Spencer, Eric, Will, Masen, and Quinn. We were so blessed to have had him in our lives. He will be forever in our hearts. We will always love him and deeply appreciate all that he did for us.