Christian (Chris) H. Boysen's Obituary
Christian (Chris) Hansen Boysen, 101, of Clinton, IA, passed away from pneumonia on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at the VA Hospice Central Iowa Hospital in Des Moines, IA, surrounded by his loving family.
Christian was born on April 17, 1916 in Clinton, IA. He was the second of two sons born to Carsten “Pete” and Eva (Busch) Boysen. Christian graduated from Clinton High School in 1934. On May 28th, 1943, he married Borghild Boardsen, the love of his life.
Christian attended Scovill Business College and then worked at the Clinton Street Railway Company. He later worked at the Clinton Fire Department for 33 years and was the Battalion Fire Chief. Upon retiring from the Clinton Fire Department in 1975, Christian worked in security with the Clinton Corn Processing Company until his retirement in 1981.
Christian was a veteran of the United States Navy during World War II from 1944 to 1946. He served as an instructor of naval firefighting at Great Lakes, IL; Boston, MA; and Norfolk, VA. He always said that the Navy let him do what he was trained to do.
Christian was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church all of his life. He belonged to the Zion Men’s Club, the Married Couples Club, and was a former secretary for the Student Aid Committee. He was the building chairman of the current sanctuary. Christian was also a 65-year member of the Western Star Masonic Lodge #100 and Scottish Rite of Clinton where he was a 32° mason. He also belonged to the Amvets, Moose Lodge, and did safety for the Boy Scouts camp sites.
Above all else, Christian was dedicated to his family and home life. He continually put others before himself. He, along with his brother and brothers-in-law, built 13 homes for their families to live in. Christian enjoyed reconstructing family antique furniture, working in his yard, gardening, and researching his family genealogy. He especially enjoyed traveling to Door County, WI; Norway (his wife’s homeland); and Germany, where his family originated.
The last three years he has lived in the home of his daughter, Sonja, in Des Moines.
Christian is preceded in death by his mother and father; brother, Harold; and wife, Borghild. He is survived by his daughters, Sonja Mennenga (Tom Florence) and Barbara Galloway, both of Des Moines; grandchildren, Heather DeJager (Robert Sherer) of Des Moines, Heidi Pearson (Christopher Pearson) of Juneau, AK, and Carson Galloway of Des Moines; great grandson, Hunter DeJager of Des Moines, sister-in-law: Mrs. Harry Boardsen of Waterloo; and many nieces and nephews. He was so very proud of them all.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 11:00 am at Zion Lutheran Church in Clinton, IA with the Reverend Dwayne Miller officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 am to the service time at the church, with a Rose Croix service at 10:30am. Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes is assisting the family. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting his obituary at www.snellzornig.com
Memorial gifts may be given to Zion Women of the Church.
Christian was a loving, dedicated, devoted, and generous husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle.
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