Elaine Mardel Christensen

Elaine Mardel Christensen, the daughter of Andrew Chris and Bertha Marie (Nelson) Nelson, was born November 17, 1928, at her parents’ home west of Exira, Iowa and died November 7, 2017, at the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa at the age of 88 years, 11 months, and 21 days.

Elaine was baptized on Christmas Day 1928 and was confirmed April 25, 1942, at St. John’s Lutheran Church west of Exira, Iowa. She attended rural school Exira Township #8 through the 8th grade and then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1946. She then taught rural school at Exira Township #7 for a short time.

On February 4, 1948, she was united in marriage to Alvin Christensen at the Exira Lutheran Parsonage in Exira. Four children: Jerry, Shirley, Lyle, and Dale were born to this union. They operated several farms in Audubon County and in 1956 purchased a farm northeast of Exira in Greeley Township. They grew row crops and raised livestock. In the fall of 1994, they retired from farming and made their home in Exira. Alvin died May 5, 2011. Elaine continued to enjoy her home in Exira until she broke her hip in 2014 and then moved to the Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn, Iowa.

Elaine was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira since 1957. She was very active in 4-H as a member of the Exira Jolly Juniors and later as a leader of the Greeley Go Getters and serving on the County Youth Committee. She was a member of the OAO neighborhood club and the Exira Garden Club. Elaine enjoyed gardening where she always had a large flower and vegetable garden and was especially known for her African Violets.

Preceding her in death is her husband Alvin Christensen, her parents, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Nels S. and Mary Christensen, her sister Rosa and husband Harry Albertsen, her brother Danzel and wife Erma Nelson, and her sister Violet and husband Leo Christensen.

Survivors include her children: Jerry and wife Cheryl Christensen of Neola, Iowa, Shirley and husband Dennis Garnett of Exira, Iowa, Lyle A. and wife Lisa Christensen of Clive, Iowa, and Dale L. and wife Sandra Christensen of Adel, Iowa; her grandchildren: Jesse and husband Chris Myers of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kevin and wife Erin Christensen of Clarinda, Iowa, Darci and husband Erik Hoffman of Adel, Iowa, and Branden Christensen of Des Moines, Iowa; her great grandchildren: Eliot Myers and Eli Myers of Cedar Rapids, Hunter Christensen and Logan Christensen of Clarinda, and Haley Hoffman, Lucy Hoffman, and Cora Hoffman of Adel; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Monday, November 13, 2017, at 2:00 P.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. The family will meet with friends on Sunday afternoon, November 12, 2017, from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery. Casket bearers will be Jesse Myers, Kevin Christensen, Darci Hoffman, Branden Christensen, Chris Myers, Erin Christensen, and Erik Hoffman.