Kenneth Christensen

KENNETH A. CHRISTENSENage 82, of Plato Center, IL, passed away unexpectedly at his home, Thursday January 11, 2007BORN / EARLY YEARSHe was born September 9, 1924 in Maple Park, IL, the son of Albert and Antonie (Nielsen) Christensen. Growing up in the Maple Park / Plato Center area, Ken graduated from Plato Center High School where he met Anne Schudel in their freshman year. Ken began winking at her in the hallway and sealed his own fate from the school hall to the church aisle. Married February 17, 1946, they began over sixty years together, farming the Triple E farm near Elgin. Ken was the dairy herdsman then but he had his eye on the future. For a time, he even worked as a seed salesman but quickly learned that his love was farming the good earth. Together, he and Anne farmed at the White Gates Farm in Wayne for a time before purchasing the Windy Hill farm, near Plato Center, in 1967. Ken was a "natural engineer". He could fix anything because he had the "know how" and because he saved everything for spare parts!LIFE NOTES Through the years, Ken also served his community as a trustee with the Pingree Grove and Countryside Fire Department, as a Director with the A.S.C. office of the Kane County Farm Bureau where he also enjoyed "farm days" when he helped educate youth about life and work on the farm. He was an active member of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Plato Center and, true to his nature, enjoyed fixing things at church. Although Ken was always known for his hard work and honesty, he made time for fun as well. Baseball was his favorite sport and he played on the Good Shepherd soft ball team as well as the fast-pitch league with the Kane County Farm Bureau for years. A man who loved the outdoors, Ken was also fond of hunting and fishing and enjoyed trips to Canada where he caught his trophy-size Northern. The nights were made for dancing and Ken and Anne enjoyed many evenings at the Blue Moon in Elgin where they especially loved to Polka. A frugal man whose life was built on faith, love and hard work, Ken shared this advice at his grandson’s wedding: "Always have a good night kiss and never go to sleep mad". SURVIVORS Ken is survived by his devoted wife, Anne and three children who remember with a smile, that dad was tough on them but his grandchildren could wind him around their fingers.Children: Carol (Vincent) Frey of Yorkville, ILDavid (Debra) Christensen of Winston-Salem, NCDana (Beth) Christensen of Peoria, IL Grandchildren: Jeffrey (Regina) Olson of Yorkville, ILLaura Olson of Yorkville,James Frey of Addison, ILKenneth E. andErica Christensen both of Winston-Salem, NC,Alexander andAdam Christensen of Peoria,And one great granddaughter, Mia Ashley.Four siblings:Raymond (Emogene) Christensen of Plato Center, Velma Montgomery of DeKalb, ILDonald (Carole) Christensen of Galesburg, IL and Lois (Don) Hennig of Hampshire, ILSeveral brothers and sisters-in-law:Fred (Sue) SchudelMadeline Aldis,John (Joyce) Schudel andJudy Christensen.And many nieces and nephews. PRECEDED He is preceded in death by:One brother Delbert Christensen, one sister in infancy, andtwo brothers-in-law, Jack Aldis and Everett Montgomery. MEMORIAL A memorial has been established in Kenneth’s name to benefit his church and favorite charities. Memorial checks may be made to the Kenneth Christensen Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com.

Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon, January 14, 2006 from 3-7pm at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 43W301 Plank Rd. Hampshire, Il and Monday morning at church from 10am until 10:45am. His funeral service will begin at 11am with Rev. Gerhardt Mau officiating.

Committal services will conclude at the Udina Cemetery.