Obit: Christophersen, Dennis Pete (1947 - 2008)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Christophersen, Thorson, Smasal, Anthony, Gerrits, Timm, Speich, Ahle, Parr

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) December 17, 2008

Christophersen, Dennis Pete "Denny" (2 March 1947 - 13 December 2008) With Flag

Dennis Pete "Denny" Christophersen, age 61, of Hudson died suddenly Saturday, December 13, 2008, at the Hudson Hospital following an apparent heart attack.

Denny was born March 2, 1947 in Stanley, WI, the son of L. Pete and Maxine (Thorson) Christophersen. He was raised in Thorp, WI and graduated from Thorp High School in the class of 1965. He was drafted into the United States Army, serving in Europe during the Vietnam War. While in the Army, he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with his soul mate, so on October 11, 1968 in Bamburg, Germany at the Army Chapel he married the former Cindy Smasal. They made Hudson their home and were blessed with three children, Trent, Tyler, and Tara. Denny will be remembered for his many years of dedicated service to the City of Hudson in their water department. He worked his way through the ranks, mostly recently Water Superintendent and Water Utilities Director. Three in the afternoon, or three in the morning, he answered many calls for help.

Denny loved being surrounded by his family and friends. Being called coach, for his kids, growing up through Booster Baseball or Hudson Jr. Basketball was paramount. That became even better when he was called grandpa. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with the crew or family at a cabin near Hayward. He also enjoyed tinkering around the garage and could fix most anything. Denny lived by the Golden Rule, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." He worried about others and frequently served as peacemaker, trying to make everyone happy.

Denny is survived by his wife, Cindy; children: Trent, Ty (Bobbie,) and Tara (Jim) Anthony; grandchildren: TJ, Emilee, Brittnie Rayne, Thelma and Neva; his father, L. Pete Christophersen; brothers/sisters-in-law: Sylvia (Merlin) Gerrits, Trudy Timm, Tom (Mariann) Smasal, Kristine (Ron) Speich, Cheryl (John) Ahle and Tony Smasal, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Maxine Christophersen; and parents-in-law, Sylvester "Snooks" and Cecelia Smasal.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 17th at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hudson with Fr. John Parr officiating. Burial with full Military honors provided by the Hudson VFW was in the Willow River Cemetery in Hudson. Visitation was one hour prior to the service at church and Tuesday, Dec. 16th from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home in Hudson.

As an expression of sympathy, memorials contributions may be made to the family. 715-386-3725

www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com

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