Christensen, Joyce Leanna (1935 - 2020)

CHRISTENSEN, ARENTSON, BRACE, NICHOLS-OLSON, SPIEHS, LINTHAKHAM, ESTEP, DESPAIN, MCKINNEY, PETERSON

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 6/18/2020 at 19:51:16

Name of deceased: Joyce Leanna Christensen (nee Arentson)

Aged: 84 yrs, 8 mo, 14 days

Residence: Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: Sep. 18, 1935; Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Died: June 1, 2020; at her home in Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Saturday, June 6, 2020; Grace Baptist Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Husband of 63 years, Stanley Christensen of Harlan, IA; children, Curt (spouse, Amy) Christensen of Omaha, NE, Beth Ann (spouse, Todd) Brace of rural Defiance, IA, Kyle (spouse, Suzanne) Christensen of rural Defiance, IA, and Joel (spouse, Valerie) Christensen of Severance, CO; sister, Mary Nichols-Olson of Marshalltown, IA; twin brothers, Verl (spouse, Marie) Arentson and Gene (spouse, Darlene) Arentson, both of Harlan, IA; grandchildren, Melany Spiehs, Amber Linthakham, Jordan Christensen, Shelby Estep, Nathan Brace, Matthew Brace, Christopher Brace, Caleb Brace, Lucas Brace, Thomas Christensen, Carrie DeSpain, Scott Christensen, Laura McKinney, Hope Christensen, Adam Christensen, Jonathan Christensen, and Evan Christensen; 11 great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Eddie and Alice (nee Peterson) Arentson

Education: Attended Lincoln #4 country school (Shelby County, IA) through Grade 8 and graduated from Harlan High School, Class of 1953; she then attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA. Joyce began teaching kindergarten in Exira, IA and taught in Exira for 4 years and then taught second grade at Irwin-Kirkman School for 1 year.

Religious affiliation: Accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at 12 years of age, was baptized and became a member of Bethel Baptist Church, Harlan, IA. Joyce and her husband became Charter members of Grace Baptist Church in 1974. There, she continued to teach Sunday School as it was her passion in serving the Lord, and she taught for over 50 years. Joyce taught and served in Awana program at Grace Baptist Church from 1974 until spring of 2020.

Military service: n/a

Marriage: Stanley Christensen; June 16, 1956; Bethel Baptist Church, Harlan, IA

Employment: no information provided

Hobbies/Interests: was very involved in 4-H, having served as a county officer until she went to college; one of her greatest joys was being with her grandchildren and cooking them their favorite foods and baking their favorite desserts; loved raising beautiful flowers and enjoyed numerous trips to view the cherry blossoms in spring time in Washington D.C.

Sources: harlanonline.com; kjan.com; pauleyjones.com