Ambrose Lewis Christianson

Ambrose Lewis Christianson was born April 9, 1934 in Hospers, IA to Elmer Lewis Christianson and Susan Eleanor (Vonderharr) Christianson. He grew up in Sioux City, IA, and graduated from Bishop Heelan High School in 1952, where he played football, basketball, baseball and ran track. He enlisted in the Naval Reserves in 1952, and when called to active duty served on the USS Snowden DE-246 and was honorably discharged in 1958. In 1952, he began working at Western Electric and retired from there (AT&T) in 1989. His job took him to many different cities and states as well as time in Greenland and Iceland.

He married Joanne Helen Berger on June 25, 1966 in New Ulm, MN. They settled in Columbia Heights, MN where they raised their five children. He loved his farm where he raised Herefords until 1977. He enjoyed spending time at the farm in his large garden, chopping and cutting wood, having campfires and cooking steaks on the fire, taking his children hunting when they were young, and watching his geese, ducks and swans on the large pond. He loved sharing the farm with family and friends. He loved gardening and spent countless hours pulling weeds; that love of gardening has been passed on to his family. After Mass on Sundays, he enjoyed making a large breakfast for the family. He loved to make his soups and of course his spaghetti sauce. He was active in the Knights of Columbus, Immaculate Conception Church and Immaculate Conception School coaching basketball, baseball, softball and soccer for several years.

Above all, he loved his family and faith. He instilled a love of his Catholic Faith with his children and grandchildren. He loved going to daily Mass and spending time in adoration. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle; he truly loved all his family and was proud of all of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He passed away on January 14, 2022 and is survived by his wife Joanne; children Daniel (Nicole) Christianson, William (Sheli) Christianson, Stephen (Joanne Weisbecker, fiancee) Christianson, Susan (Michael) Kowalsky, John (Melissa) Christianson; grandchildren Claire, Anna, William, Gunnar, Zane, Matthew, Zarek, Madeleine, Zaven, Zaya, Joseph, Zaylee; and brother Edward Christianson.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings John Christianson, Mathilda "Tillie" Reichle, Frances Boyd, Norbert Christianson, Elizabeth "Betty" Fortin, Gerald "Jerry" Christianson and Delores "Dee" Nye.

Mass of Christian Burial January 28, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 4030 Jackson St. NE, Columbia Heights with visitation one hour prior. Interment at St. Louis Cemetery in Foreston, MN.