Christine Althoff Wunn

She was born Christine Schlaeger (mother, Maria) on January 27, 1943, in Munich, Germany. She was raised by her father, Rudolph Althoff and her stepmother, Anna Althoff.

Christine traveled extensively and in 1968 immigrated from Germany to Greater Los Angeles, where she met and married her husband, Eldon Veryl Wunn. They remained married for the rest of their lives, with Eldon passing away on April 25, 2025, in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Christine and Eldon called many places home, including Covina, California; Walla Walla, Washington; Lake Villa, Illinois; Monument and Fort Collins, Colorado; Burleson, Texas; and Springfield and Jacksonville, Illinois.

Christine spent the final months of her life at The Pointe at Jacksonville, an assisted living facility where she was making new friends and, as she often called it, “chit-chatting” about the good old days.

Christine was proud of her German heritage and loved cooking German meals for family and friends, listening to German polka, and joining various German clubs. She also loved America and became a U.S. citizen in 2011. She cherished her time in Los Angeles as a young adult, visiting Hollywood and the ocean in the late 1960s. She loved the Rocky Mountains because they reminded her of her native Bavaria. She loved nature, especially flowers and birds. Her favorite season was autumn, particularly the vibrant yellow leaves of aspen trees.

For most of her adult life, she was a homemaker, attended church, and relished hosting. For many years, she volunteered in children’s ministry. She especially loved church music, choir singing, and the Christmas season. She enjoyed movies, card games, laughing, and spending time with others. For several years, she assisted Eldon in running their cabinet door and woodworking business in Fort Collins.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Eldon; parents; brother, Hermann; aunt and uncle, Josephine and Meinhardt Spekat; and half-sister, Erika Kleinwechter. She was particularly fond of her grandmother, Barbara Schlaeger, after whom she named her daughter, Barbara Christine Sherman.

Survivors include her daughter, Barbara (Springfield, Illinois; husband, Pete); son, Dennis Wunn (Dallas, Texas); brother, Heinrich (Germany); grandchildren, Luke and Lydia Sherman; and several nieces, nephews, and relatives throughout the U.S., Canada, and Germany.

Cremation will be provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center, prior to services.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Boardman-Smith Funeral Home, 800 S. Grand Ave. W., Springfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in honor of Christine A. Wunn to the Washington Park Botanical Garden. Donations can be sent to: Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., Springfield, IL 62704. Checks may be made out to: Springfield Park District – Washington Park Botanical Garden. Please include “Christine A. Wunn Memorial” in the memo line or donation note.