Cmdr. Kenneth J. Christenson, USN, Ret.

Kenneth Jerome Christenson, 91, a retired Naval Commander who later worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Pentagon, Washington DC, passed on July 28, 2011 with his family by his side.

Commander Christenson, a resident of Springfield, Virginia for 49 years, was born in Fargo, North Dakota on June 1, 1920. He graduated from North Dakota State University and Commissioned in the Navy in 1943 as a line officer on minesweepers and destroyers. His last tour of duty was with the Commandant of the Ninth Naval District in Great Lakes, Illinois. Commander Christenson then went to work for the Federal Civil Defense Administration, a predecessor of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he specialized in State and Local Government Readiness Emergencies, where he was instrumental in initiating the Advance Emergency Warning System. He retired in 1980 from the Federal Government.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Edna L. Christenson of Springfield VA; six children and their spouses, Stephen K. Christenson (Norma Christenson) of Herndon, VA; Elizabeth H. Edwards (Taylor Edwards) of Amelia Island, FL; Denise A. Zuk (Mark Zuk) of Fredericksburg, VA; Sandra L. Friend (Roy Friend), of Woodbridge, VA; Timothy J. Christenson (Nancy Christenson) of Springfield, VA; Cynthia A. Murphy (John Murphy) of Manassas, VA; and 13 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 11am at St. Bernadette Catholic Church 7600 Old Keene Mill Rd. Springfield, VA 22152. He will be later buried Arlington National Cemetery with Full Military Honors.

Donations in memory of Kenneth Christenson can be made to Capital Caring – Hospice, 4715 15th Street North, Arlington, VA 22205. Demainefunerals.com