Passed away March 16, 2013 at the age of 91. She was born in Lansing, MI November 19, 1921. Her father was Theodore Peter VanderZalm, MD of Grand Haven, MI (deceased 1973). Her mother was Emma Mason VanderZalm of Blanchard, MI (deceased 1964). She is survived by two sons, Kevin Peter Kittleson, MD and his wife Leanna of Sandpoint, Idaho and Kyle Mason Kittleson, PhD and his wife Stephanie of Williamston, Michigan and one granddaughter, Kelsey Marie Kittleson of Sandpoint. She graduated from Lansing Central High School in 1939 and received her BS from MSU in Chemistry in 1943. Christine was an enthusiastic member of Plymouth Congregational Church while growing up. She was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority and the Gamma Phi Beta Honorary Chemistry Society. In 1945 she graduated from Northwestern University with an MS in Physical Therapy. She worked at Percy Jones General Hospital in Battle Creek and in 1946 founded the Physical Therapy Department at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. She was an accomplished, competitive, horseback rider and enjoyed most outdoor activities. She married Arthur Clausen Kittleson, MD (of Las Cruces, NM) in 1948. They moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in the early 1950s. She was busy raising two boys and worked as a physical therapy volunteer in the U of M Hospital. She was a member of the First Congregational Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. She was a member of the U of M Faculty Women’s Society, Secretary of the Washtenaw County Medical Auxiliary, a County delegate to the GOP convention for four years, led three Girl Scout Troops, two Cub Scout Dens, and was the Secretary of the Ann Arbor Amateur Hockey Association for seventeen years. In 1974 Christine returned to Lansing where she rejoined Plymouth Congregational Church, as a member of Bishop Circle, and sang in the choir for 27 years. She was active in the Sparrow Hospital Guild, Lansing City Club, and the Lansing Country Club. She happily spent many weeks each summer at her cottage with family and friends on Lake Margrethe near Grayling, MI. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, March 22nd at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 900 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912 with the Rev. Joy Baumgartner, of Plymouth Congregational Church, officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, those desiring, may make contributions in memory of Christine to the United States Equestrian Team Foundation at http://www.uset.org or PO Box 355, Gladstone, NJ 07934-9955. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.grlansing.com
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