Charlie Christiansen

Click Here To View Memorial Video Charles Wayne “Charlie” Christiansen, 85, of Idaho Falls, died peacefully in his sleep Thursday, October 28, 2015, at Lincoln Court Retirement Community in Idaho Falls. Charlie was born November 13, 1929, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Albert Hans Christiansen and Eliza Casper Christiansen. He was the youngest of their four children. In 1943, the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa. Charlie graduated early from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines to join the U.S. Army. When the rest of his high school class graduated, he was already stationed in Berlin, Germany, as a MP (military police). When he returned home from Germany, he attended Drake University for a short time as a pre-med student. Charlie withdrew from Drake University to join the U.S. Air Force as a Hospital Corpsman. On March 23, 1951, he married Barbara Joanne Bruere and he adopted her young daughter, Paula Sue. Their union later produced two more children, Kerry Christine and Douglas Neil. After several years as a military medic, Charlie switched career paths to become a contract administrator in government procurement for the Air Force. He retired from military service in 1975, at the rank of Senior Master Sergeant, after serving at commands in Texas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Greenland, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam (three tours). After separating from the Air Force, Charlie worked in San Bruno, California, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, administrating purchasing contracts for Aramco. Later, he was a night watchman for a security firm, and finally, he worked driving a school bus for handicapped children. In their later years, both Charlie and his wife, Barbara, were active members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Barbara died August 18, 2002, in Rialto, California, and afterward Charlie moved to Idaho Falls. He always enjoyed the outdoors, target/trap shooting and black powder reloading. He is survived by his son, Douglas (Michelle) Christiansen of San Diego, CA, a daughter, Paula Kaleikini of Honolulu, HI, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Charlie was preceded in death by both parents, his wife, Barbara, a daughter, Kerry, two brothers, Milton and Wesley, and a sister, Lelia Mason. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 14, 2015, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Avenue. Family and friends will visit afterwards at the Idaho Falls LDS Mountain View Ward, 1450 Mountain View Lane. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.

Memorial Services will be held

11 a.m. ,Saturday, November 14, 2015 Wood Funeral Home 273 North Ridge Avenue Idaho Falls, ID, Bonneville 83402