CHRISTENSEN, Martin George, beloved husband of the late Lilian Attewell Christensen, died suddenly Friday, December 10, 2004 after a brief illness following a fall outside of his home on November 8, 2004. Marty, as he was known to all of his friends and family was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Purcell High School and joined the War Department's Civilian Conservation Corps in January 1935 shortly before his 18th birthday. He was commissioned to Camp Indiana Ranch in Dobbins, California and Camp Yellowstone Park in Wyoming. He served his country as a Forester and Surveyor under President Roosevelt's Commanding Officers until 1938 at which time he received an Honorable Discharge. From 1938 to 1942 he worked in Cincinnati to help support his mother and siblings due to the untimely death of his father, Junius Christensen, an immigrant from Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1942 he enlisted for the war effort in the United Air Corps and was stationed in London, England serving in the 392nd Bomb Group as a Corporal. His squadron flew 285 missions, losing 185 planes, suffering 1553 casualities, including 747 killed in action and 800 wounded or becoming prisoners of war. On February 26th (a day before his 27th birthday) Marty's unit earned the 'Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation' for outstanding performance of duty in armed conflict with the enemy. Today there is a Wall Memorial of the 392nd Bomb Group which was dedicated on October 7, 1989 in Wendling, Norfolk County, East Angilia, England. During his military service in London, he met and immediately fell in love with a young English girl named Lilian Attewell. They were married on August 1, 1944 and their only child, Carolyn, was born a year later in London. After Marty returned home from the war he sent for his wife and daughter who later joined him in Cincinnati. He resumed his life in the prosperous postwar years as a custom designer in kitchen, bathroom and cabinets with Kinsella National Sintop Company, a family owned business. Several years later Marty and his wife opened a privately owned grocery store known as Christensen's Delicatessen. Lilian along with Marty's uncle, George Martin and daughter Carolyn, helped managed the store while Marty continued working as a cabinet maker. He was a avid golfer playing the courses at every opportunity after work and weekends during the Spring, Summer and Fall and putted for hours on end from his living room during the Winter. He likewise was a tremendous dancer knowing all the latest steps to the modern dances and taught tap dancing to groups and classes for several years in the late 1940's and 1950's. He performed for the incarcerated and likewise taught them how to jitterbug. In 1975 he lost his wife, Lilian, after 31 years of marriage to breast cancer. He remained a widower to his death always pledging his eternal love, commitment and dedication to her and thanking God for the years they were able to have together. He continued to live his life for his daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Marty was a devout Catholic and never neglected saying the rosay almost every night of his life, even during the nights of combat in World War II, as well as in the hospital shortly before his death. During his retirement years he loved living in Florida where the climate enabled him to play golf twelve months a year and walk on days he wasn't on the golf course. Until the day of his fall in November 2004, he was walking 3-5 miles a day then returning home to putt endlessly with his golf clubs. Marty lived his life to the total commitment of his family. He never met a person he didn't call his friend or 'buddy'. In addition to his wife, Marty was predeceased by his brother Junius Christensen and three sisters, Mary Kinsella, Olga Costello and Ann Weast. He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Horst (widow of the late Jack Horst), three grandchildren; Diana Fruechtemeyer and her husband Ralph Fruechtemeyer, Michael Francisco and his wife Wendy Francisco, and Christopher Horst; and two great-grandchildren, Anastacia Fleisher and Stephen Francisco. Marty is also survived by his sisters, Margaret Fuller of Kansas City, Missouri and Louise Buchanan of Charleston, South Carolina, as well as numerous neices and nephews. The family will receive friends Tuesday, December 14, 2004 from 5:00-8:00pm at Gilligan Funeral Home, 8225 Montgomery Road. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, December 15, 2004 at 10:00am at All Saints Catholic Church, 8939 Montgomery Road. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 11000 Montgomery Road. Memorals may be made to the Mercy St. Theresa Center, 7010 Rowan Hill Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227.

Service

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Gilligan Funeral Home 3734 Eastern Avenue Cincinnati 45226, United States

Service

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 10:00 AM All Saints Catholic Church 8939 Montgomery Road Cincinnati 45236, United States