John M. Christenson, 67, of Blooming Prairie, died Monday evening, Oct. 17, 2011, at the Owatonna Hospital.

John Martin Christenson was born March 7, 1944, in Albert Lea, Minn., to Elmer and Vivian (Lee) Christenson. He attended country school and Austin High School and graduated in 1962. John served in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1962-1965. After his discharge, he attended the Albert Lea Vo-Tech, for electrician training. He worked as an electrician throughout the state of Minnesota and was a member of the IBEW Union Local 343. On July 14, 1972, he married Sandra Hebel in Blooming Prairie. The couple lived on a farm near Blooming Prairie for their entire marriage and had four sons. As a member of St. Columbanus Catholic Church, John served on the church council and as an usher. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Blooming Prairie Serviceman’s Club, the American Legion, and the Blooming Prairie Township Board. John enjoyed fishing, traveling and spectator sports.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra; children, Edward (Brandy) Christenson of Minot, N.D., Martin (Carrie) Christenson of Montevideo, Minn., William (Alicia) Christenson of Maple Lake, Minn., Thomas (Jenny) Christenson of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; five grandchildren, Tatum, Brayden, Tosten, Gabriel and Akeley; three brothers, Fred Escherich of Burlington, N.C., Richard (Janice) Christenson and Kenneth (Sharon) Christenson, both of Austin; father-in-law, Edward Hebel of Kilkenny, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Vivian; sister-in-law, Joan Escherich; one niece; mother-in-law, Alice Hebel.

A mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, at St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie with Father William Kulas officiating. Visitation will be 5 to 8 Thursday and one hour prior to the service, both at the church. There will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary service at 5 p.m. Thursday at St. Columbanus. Interment will be at the Geneva Cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 52 and VFW Post 878. The family prefers memorials be made to the Blooming Prairie Cancer Fund, the Blooming Prairie Serviceman’s Club, or St. Columbanus Catholic Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.