A Memorial Service for Danny Clarence “Dan” Christensen will be held on Monday, August 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastors Dave Oldham, Kevin Lund, and Murray Jones officiating. A private family inurnment will be held at a later date at the Valparaiso Cemetery in Valparaiso, Nebraska.
Dan Christensen, 73, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. He was born on July 20, 1951, in Bangor, Maine, the second of four children born to Clarence Christensen Jr. and Ruth Evelyn Marian (Nord) Christensen. Dan received his education from Valparaiso Public School and Raymond Central Public School, graduating with the class of 1969.
Following his education, Dan served in the Nebraska Air National Guard and pursued higher education at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he received his bachelor’s degree in Photo Journalism with a minor in Business.
On November 22, 1975, he was united in marriage to Carol “Sue” Bowker and they were blessed with three sons: Timothy, Nathan, and Robert. The family made their home in Holdrege, where Dan pursued his lifelong passion of photography. He owned and operated Christensen Photography for over 38 years. One of his favorite promotions at the studio was Dan’s Kids, one of the many ways he touched so many families with his excellence in photography. Dan had an extraordinary knack for capturing images using his humor and quick wit. He never met anyone he couldn’t nickname. After his retirement, Dan found a new passion and served as the Executive Director at the Nebraska Prairie Museum for five years.
Dan was a faithful member of the Trinity Evangelical Free Church where he enjoyed teaching Sunday School and narrating many holiday programs. He served on many boards and was also an active member of Gideons International, Rotary where he was a past president, and the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce. While with the Chamber, Dan emceed many banquets and also portrayed Santa Claus for the community for many years. Dan volunteered with the Nebraska Right to Life. He went on a mission trip to Haiti with a Holdrege medical team where he took over 3,000 pictures capturing the spirit of the Haitians. Whether he was behind the lens, making new friends everywhere he went, or sharing a joke, Dan brought joy and inspiration to all who knew him.
Dan was loved by everyone in this community. He touched so many lives just by his happy joyful outlook on life. The bottom line is he was very special, had a big heart, loved everyone and everyone cared for him. He just had a calm, kind way about him. He truly treated people like he would want to be treated and had an impact on so many lives. He was genuinely caring and humble, always acting out of a heart of love and compassion for others, not seeking personal recognition. He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren and attending all of their events and activities.
Besides his parents, Dan was preceded in death by his sister, Jeanne Schneider; and nephew, Anders Ukinski.
Dan leaves to celebrate his life, his wife of 48 years, Sue Christensen of Holdrege;
his children: Timothy Christensen and his wife, Shelby of Holdrege; Nathan Christensen and his wife, Jessica of Seward, Nebraska; and Robert Christensen and his wife Andrea of Holdrege; his honorary daughter, Tiffany Warning and her husband, Justin of Holdrege;
grandchildren: Quentin Hadan and his wife, Aisha; Aurora and Eilonwy Christensen; Sierra, Emma, Ethan, Joslyn Christensen; honorary grandchildren: Lindsay Hueftle and her husband, Isaac; Wyatt and Jordyn Warning; one great-grandson, Atreus Hadan; one sister, Cynthia Christensen and her husband, Paul LaBarbera of Louisville, Kentucky; one brother, John Christensen of Ceresco, Nebraska; four brothers-in-law: Larry Schneider of Lincoln, Nebraska; Tom Ukinski of Louisville; Vince Bowker of Ceresco; Rob Bowker and his wife, Reva of St. Peters, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Norma Sheldon and her husband, Mark Wagner of Niles, Michigan; along with many nieces and nephews, and extended family and friends.
A memorial book signing will be held on Sunday, August 4, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, with the family greeting from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Memorials in Dan’s honor are kindly suggested to the Gideons, the Wounded Warrior Project, or the charity of your choosing.
The family requests that if you have any photos or memories of Dan you share them on the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100033954344066
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.