John Martin Christian (1871 - 1956)

CHRISTIAN, JONDALL, LOCK, CECIL, BORWICK, SMITH, FREEMAN, HOLEN, MUNSON, ERICKSON, DUEA

Posted By: Tamara Jorstad (email)
Date: 2/27/2005 at 14:29:34

Ames Daily Tribune (Ames, IA), Monday, September 17, 1956 (pg 2)

OBITUARY

John Martin Christian

John Martin Christian was born near Newark, Ill., March 25, 1871, and died at his Roland home Monday evening, Aug. 27 at the age of 87 years, five months and two days.

Mr. Christian was baptized in the Lisbon Lutheran Church near Newark, Ill., April 16, 1871 by the pioneer pastor, Rev. P. A. Rasmussen, and was confirmed Nov. 14, 1886 in the Bergen Lutheran Church at Roland.

In 1875 he came with his parents, Ole and Jorna Christian to Iowa. They settled on a farm three miles south of Roland where he was reared.

May 18, 1901, he was married to Helen Jondall. They farmed southeast of Roland until they retired in 1938, when they moved to Roland. He lived in Roland until his death.

He is survived by his wife and eight children: Mrs. June Lock of Roland; Hansel and Marion of Colo; Mrs. Cleo Cecil of Gardena, Calif.; Mrs. Olive Borwick of Roland; Mrs. Arlet Smith of State Center; Mrs. Ruby Freeman of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Mrs. Frances Holen of Roland.

He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, one great grandchild and two sisters, Mrs. Alice Munson of Story City and Mrs. Emma Erickson of Roland. Preceding him in death were a son Frank, his parents, six brothers and one sister.

Mr. Christian serveed as a trustee of Salem Lutheran Church and for several years as a member of the Roland Park Board.

Funeral services were held at the Salem Lutheran Church with the Rev. Olaf Holen in charge on Friday afternoon, Aug. 31. Music consisted of two duets by Mrs. Harold Hovick, "Rock of Ages," and "Nearer My God to Thee."

Pallbearers were nephews of the deceased; Floyd Christian, Leonard Christian, Earl Erickson, Vernon Munson, Henry Erickson and Victor Duea. Interment was in the Roland cemetery.