John L. Christopherson (1922-2008)

CHRISTPHERSON, MATHIS, SPORTSMAN, CHRISTENSON, BOWEN

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 3/16/2008 at 13:40:14

THE STORY CITY HERALD, Story City, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, March 5, 2008.

John L. Christopherson, 86, who grew up in Story City, died Friday, Feb. 22, 2008, in the care of the Hospice of Saint John in Denver, Colorado. Memorial services were held at Mountain View Church in Denver on Saturday, March 1. Burial was at Fort Logan military cemetery in Denver on Monday, March 3.

John was born in Hubbard, Iowa on January 1, 1922 to Alfred and Maggie Christopherson. The family later moved to Story City where John attended school, graduating from Story City High School.

During World War II he served as a soldier in the 99th Infantry Battalion. The battalion, comprised of Americans of Norwegian descent, trained to liberate Norway and also participated in the invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.

Following the war, John returned to Story City and married Simone Mathis, whom he met in France. They had three children together.

He was employed in Story City and Nevada before moving to Ames and, eventually, to Denver where he was employed as a bowling alley sales engineer for AMF and, later, for Brunswick.

He and Simone divorced in early 1969. In 1970, he met and married Deloris Sportsman of Denver.

He was active in Denver area Norwegian cultural organizations and the planning of reunions of his battalion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five of his siblings, Mina, Irene, Milo, Lee and Lyle and his son, John Paul Christopherson.

He is survived by his wife, Deloris of Denver, Colorado; his sister, Katherine Christenson of Moorhead, Minnesota; son, Daniel (Anne) Christopherson of Denver, Colorado; daughter, Francine Bowen (Tom) of Las Vegas, Nevada;
Mrs. John Paul (Dora)
Christopherson of Denver, Colorado; eight grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and the extended sportsman family.

Memorials may be directed to the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa.