Celebration of Life -Chris Christopherson

Theodore Oscar “Chris” Christopherson June 4, 1938 - January 13, 2026

Chris was born on June 4, 1928, in a farmhouse in Portage, Wisconsin. He was the first of four children including Roger, George and Ida Mae. During his young life, which was just before the Stock Market crash of 1929 and through the Great Depression of the 1930’s. He worked several jobs while attending school to

help supplement the family income.

In 1946, shortly after graduation from high school, he enlisted in the US Marine Corp and was sent to MCRD in Parris Island, SC, for basic training. After boot camp, he was sent to Quantico, VA, for aircraft mechanic school.

During this time, he was selected to serve in President Harry Truman’s inaugural honor guard. He was then sent to Aguana, Guam, arriving in October of 1949.

Over the following years, he served in various duty stations in Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Taiwan, Okinawa, Philippines, Vietnam, Cherry Point, NC, El Toro, CA, Memphis, TN, and Oakland, CA. Among his many

awards, included the Navy-Marine Corp Achievement metal. He was promoted from Private through Gunnery Sargent to Warrant Office Two, retiring in August of 1968.

His formal military schooling included aviation metalsmith A school, advanced aviation metalsmith B school, various aircraft system schools, and Aviation Officer Maintenance Manager. As time was available, he also attended night school at local colleges during his career. After retiring from the Marine Corp in 1968, he

worked for Collins Radio in So. California until moving to Southern Oregon in the early 1970’s.

During one of his family trips, they came through southern Oregon which ‘hooked’ him on the Rogue Valley and bought a piece of property near Rogue River and built a home moving in June of 1973.

Once residing in Oregon, Chris stayed busy in the local community, serving in local churches and Sunday School classes, Christian Education Fellowship activities, Several leadership positions and counseling. He drove school buses for several years and cared for his three wifes, Carrie, Helen and Bonnie, outliving each of them.

Even in his ‘Retirement’ years, he taught bible classes, provided counseling to others. He was a ‘true’ man of God and showed it as example in his daily life. His immediate surviving family includes children, Joy, Jeanette, Gordon and several grandchildren. He also has a surviving sister, Ida Mae, living in Fort Collings, CO.

He was a True Christian and friend to all of those who knew him. Well, done, Humble Servant of God! We are Proud to have known you! Thank You for your life!