Emogene Ruth Christensen

EMOGENE RUTH CHRISTENSEN, age 92, of Plato Center, passed away peacefully at Provena St. Josephs Hospital in Elgin on Monday evening, May 23, 2011. BORN: She was a New Years Day "gift" to her parents, the late John and Beeda (Clark) Byerley, in 1919, in Champaign County, IL. EDUCATION: Emogene graduated from DeKalb Township High School with the class of 1936. She furthered her education at a local business school and then began working for DeKalb Ag. MARRIAGE: Emogene didn’t have to look far to find the man of her dreams. Raymond Christensen appeared on her doorstep almost every Saturday night after they were introduced by mutual friends. Their love story played itself out on the dance floor of Longs Barn surrounded by great music and even greater friends. They were united in marriage on September 28, 1940 at Emogene’s parent’s home north of Maple Park. RESIDENTIAL HISTORY: They began their new life together in Maple Park for a time before moving to St. Charles, IL on New Year’s Eve, 1942, when their daughter was only six weeks old, making a home on South Second St. OCCUPATION / WORK HISTORY:In addition to Emogene, Ray fell in love with farming and two years later in 1944, the family moved to Waterman where they rented a nearby farm. Ray and Emogene would move to Plato Center in 1947 where Ray continued to farm and Emogene continued to fill the house with love and memories, making it truly a "home". Later in life, Emogene worked for twenty years as a secretary for Elgin Mental Health Center. MEMBERSHIPS: Emogene not only cared for her family, but for her community as well. She was a faithful member of the Plato Center Methodist Church, who became what is now Cornerstone Church. She was also a 4-H leader, was active in the Kane County Home Bureau and volunteered for many organizations. LIFE NOTES: Emogene loved to travel and at each destination she bought a spoon which she proudly displayed in her home. She and Raymond visited Europe on three occasions, Australia once and 47 out of the 50 states. She also found that she had an artist’s heart following oil painting classes after her retirement in 1986. Many of her portraits found places of honor in the homes of family and friends. SURVIVORS: She is survived by two children: Janice (Jim) Stout of Burlington, IL and Thomas (Ginny) Christensen of Allons, TN;Six Grandchildren: Michael (Dee) Stout and their daughter Katie, all of Kingston, IL Jeffrey Stout of Union, IL, John (Debbie) Stout and their daughter Abby, all of Marengo, IL, Carrie (Jeremy) Christensen Head and their children, Lillian and Jacob, all of Louisvile, KY, Andrew (Beth) Christensen of Roseburg, OR, and Daniel (Jessica) Christensen of Columbia, SC; Three brothers:Arthur (Lorraine) Fields, Vernon (Joanne) Fields and Carrol (Mary) Fields;PRECEDED:She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond, one daughter Joann Christensen, in infancy, one son Sgt. William Ray Christensen in 1969 in Vietnam. VISITATION / FUNERAL Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2011 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. Her funeral will be Friday, May 27, at 11 a.m. at Cornerstone Church, 41W170 Russell Rd, Elgin. Burial will follow at Gardner Cemetery. MEMORIAL The family has requested that no memorial be established, but tributes and memories may be forwarded to the family P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119 or through www.conleycare.com where you may find Emogene’s full Life Story.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2011 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. Her funeral will be Friday, May 27, at 11 a.m. at Cornerstone Church, 41W170 Russell Rd, Elgin.

Burial will follow at Gardner Cemetery.