William ‘Bill’ Christensen

Bill was born on March 22, 1956 in Oakland, California. He was a 1974 graduate of Marquette Senior High School and then served with the U.S. Marines for 10 years, being discharged in 1984.

Bill worked at The Mining Journal for over 30 years, retiring from the Circulation Department in October of 2016.

Bill loved sports and especially enjoyed following his daughter, Nicole’s, softball career. He was a great supporter of high school athletics.

In his free time, Bill enjoyed hunting, volunteering for many fundraising events, was the softball announcer at Hurley Field and umpired there for 25 years. He was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his wife, Sharleen (Kirby), whom he married on September 21, 1985, at Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham, MI; two children, William Henry Christensen, Jr. (Genevieve) of Bonney Lake, WA, and Nicole Christensen (and her dog, Remington, Bill’s hunting buddy) of Marquette; two grandchildren, Helena and Viktor Christensen; his mother, Elsie Christensen of Marquette; sister, Elsie Ann (Greg) Ostrenga of Marquette; father and mother-in-law, Lyle and Nancy Kirby of Wells; brother and sister-in-law, Jay and Vicky Kirby of Cornell, and brother-in-law, Mike Kirby of Kihei, HI; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, Henry J. Christensen.

A private celebration of Bill’s life will take place at a later date.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider Redeemer Lutheran Church. 1700 W. Fair Ave., Marquette, MI 49855, or Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, 914 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette, MI 49855, in Bill’s memory.

The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home is assisting the Christensen family where memories may be shared at canalefuneral.com