Michael Christensen

Michael J. Christensen, 77, of The Clipper Home in Westerly, Rhode Island, passed away of Alzheimers disease on December 16, 2012, at the Westerly Hospital. He was born March 18, 1935 in Greenville Michigan, son of Milo and Julia Christensen, brother of Suzanne. His father nurtured him to become an engineer, his mother that he have courage, his sister that he have compassion. He had the best of all of them. He graduated from the Greenville High School and went on to Case Institute of Technology in Cleveland Ohio, graduating in June of 1957. He moved to Connecticut to a career as engineer and engineering project manager in the submarine engineering, design, and construction business. Retiring at age fifty-six he engaged in various volunteer activities in communities of Southeastern Connecticut. He made his life, a life of his own, not abandoning his adventurous spirit. His greatest lesson of life was that his life was not his own, but he shaped it and lived it for the circumstances of the times. His greatest joy was his vast family. He is survived by friends, Barbara Walker Fontaine and Julian Fontaine of Mystic CT; daughter, Linda Jager and her husband, Mark Jager, of Rockwood, Michigan, grandsons, Mark Jager of Rockwood, Michigan and, Nicholas Jager and his wife, Amanda, of Newport News, Virginia and great grandson, Alex Jager; his son, Michael J. Christensen Jr. and his wife, Michele, Christensen of Westerly, RI, granddaughters, Kristi Christensen and, Jennifer Hoelck and her husband, Kevin Hoelck of Westerly, RI and great-granddaughter, Emmalee Hoelck; stepdaughter, Veronica Bennett of Texas, and stepsons, Walter Dudley, and Jonathan Dudley of Texas. He was predeceased by stepson, Marc Dudley of Danielson, CT, and predeceased by his wife Joan (Dudley) Christensen. Graveside committal services are at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 28th at 1:00 pm at the Forest Home Cemetery, Greenville. Memorial donations may be made to the Greenville Area Community Foundation, 101 North Lafayette, Greenville, Michigan 48838. Christiansen Cremation & Funeral Care, Greenville, is entrusted with the local burial arrangements. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Michael Christensen, please visit our flower store.