Warren James Christensen, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, age 82, passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of August 31st. We were grateful that we had already planned a celebration of Grandpa’s life that day. Fifty of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren gathered to celebrate the life that he had lived.
Warren was born April 21st, 1942, to James Peter Christensen and Rhea Wood Christensen in Los Angeles, California. The family moved to a farm in East Garland, Utah when he was six as his father wanted his boys to learn the value of hard work.
Warren excelled in athletics and academics in his high school years. He was given the Scholastic Athlete Award for Bear River High School when he graduated. He played football for the University of Utah his freshman year.
Warren served a faithful mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Western Canadian mission from 1961-1963.
He then resumed his studies at the University of Utah, received his degree in accounting and his MBA degree. He worked in the accounting profession as a CPA the rest of his life, finally retiring six weeks before his death.
Warren married Sharon Lott Christensen July 2nd, 1964, in the Cardston, Alberta Temple. They were blessed to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary this July.
Warren and Sharon were blessed to be the parents of seven children, six sons and one daughter. At Warren’s passing they have twenty-seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Warren loved to golf and taught all of his sons to golf as well. They enjoyed many golf holidays together.
Warren loved the gospel of Jesus Christ and had a deep and abiding testimony of our Savior. He served in bishoprics and as the Bishop of our ward. He also taught Gospel Doctrine for many years and loved that calling. He served for 24 years as an ordinance worker in the Jordan River, Salt Lake and Draper Temples. He completed his service the day of his first stroke, May 1st, 2024.
He is survived by his loving wife Sharon and children, Robert (Heidi), Randy, Jeff (Julie) Melanie, Brent (Jennie), Jared (Jen), and Spencer (Marianne). He is also survived by his brothers Mahlon, Bruce (LeeAnn), Jay (Bonnie), Boyd (Kate), and sister Margaret (Kay).
Funeral services will be held Monday, September 9th at 12:00 P.M. at the church on 2925 E. Bengal Blvd (7800 S). A viewing will be held at the same location Sunday, September 8th from 6:00 to 8:00 P. M and the day of the service from 10:30 to 11:45 A.M The interment will take place immediately after the funeral at Memorial Estates Cemetery, 3115 Bengal Blvd. (7800 S.)
We were returning from a fishing trip at a lake above Lava Hot springs Idaho when we blew out a tire on our boat trailer. No sooner than we pulled off the road and stopped than here came a pickup with three boys in it who all jumped out to help. As they help us with our problem, my wife Judy in talking to them discovered they were brothers and their family came from East Garland, which is where Judy grew up. In quizzing them further, we discovered that their father was Warren, and they were at Lava for a family reunion. We thought it was an amazing coincidence and that the quality and helpfulness of the boys was quite a tribute to their father, Warren. We went up to their family reunion to say hello to him. That was the last time and maybe the only time I saw him since we graduated. While talking to him I kidded him about his mastery of the art of slow walking which he demonstrated daily in the halls of Bear River. He must have lost that skill since high school, because he did not rember anything about it.
Jr Garfield
Comment from J. R.:
We were returning from a fishing trip at a lake above Lava Hot springs Idaho when we blew out a tire on our boat trailer. No sooner than we pulled off the road and stopped than here came a pickup with three boys in it who all jumped out to help. As they help us with our problem, my wife Judy in talking to them discovered they were brothers and their family came from East Garland, which is where Judy grew up. In quizzing them further, we discovered that their father was Warren, and they were at Lava for a family reunion. We thought it was an amazing coincidence and that the quality and helpfulness of the boys was quite a tribute to their father, Warren. We went up to their family reunion to say hello to him. That was the last time and maybe the only time I saw him since we graduated. While talking to him I kidded him about his mastery of the art of slow walking which he demonstrated daily in the halls of Bear River. He must have lost that skill since high school, because he did not rember anything about it.
Jr Garfield