Somers – Alton B. Christensen, 90, passed away at St. Mary’s Medical Center on Tuesday, September 5, 2006. He was born in Luck, Wisconsin on August 31, 1916, son of the late Walter and Ella (nee: Albert) Christensen. He was married on June 25, 1929 to Mary Virginia Crowley in Logan, Montana. She preceded him in 1991.
During WWII Alton served in the Army Air Corps stationed at Wright-Patterson air base. While there he invented and received a patent for a bombsight gyroscope that significantly aided in the war effort. During his lifetime he received 11 additional patents for his work. In his early years he was quite an adventurer. He was a cowboy, owned oil wells, and successfully prospected for gold. In 1950 he and his family moved to Racine to work for JI Case, where he ultimately became the General Service Manager, retiring in 1977. He was a member of the F&AM Belle City Lodge #92, and the Shriners Club.
Mr. Christensen is survived by his children, Walter M. (Dr. Kerry L. Sharpe) Christensen of Ft. Atkinson, Pat (Don Olson) Christensen of Minneapolis, Minnasota, and Virginia Dahl of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren, Ted (Fred Rowe) Dahl of Berkley, Califonia, Elizabeth Dahl of Parker Colorado, Patricia (Carson) Donn of Elizabeth, Colorado, Stephen Dahl of Topeka, Kansas, and Sara (Reilous) Weaver of Lakewood, Colorado; great-grandchildren, Olivia, and Ava Donn, and Ella Weaver. He was also preceded by his son-in-law Steve Dahl; grandson Taylor Dahl; and 3 brothers.
A Service of Remembrance, with Masonic Ritual will be held in the funeral home at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2006. Entombment will follow at Allsaints Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Memorials to Vitas Hospice, or the Shriner Hospitals have been suggested.
The family extends their many thanks to the staff of St. Mary’s Medical Center, and to everyone at Vitas Hospice for the loving and compassionate care Alton and his family received.
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