Dr. H. Kurt Christensen

April 12, 1941, Manhattan, New York – July 17, 2026, Boulder, Colorado

Dr. H. Kurt Christensen, 85, passed away on July 17, 2026, in Boulder, Colorado. He is remembered by his family and friends as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, educator, and lifelong servant of his church and community. His love came through in a home-cooked meal, a hymn played on the organ, and readiness to provide a ride or a helping hand.

Kurt was born on April 12, 1941, in Manhattan, and grew up in New Jersey, on a street crowded with kids and full of activity. He attended high school at The Pingry School before majoring in English and History at Swarthmore.

After graduation he spent his next years in missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northern States Mission. He later earned an MBA from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Business Strategy from Columbia University.

It was in Boston that Kurt met Linda. They married in 1977, beginning a partnership that would carry them across the country and around the world together.

Kurt built his career as a professor of business strategy teaching at Purdue, Northwestern, the Sasin Institute in Thailand, American University, and University College Dublin. He loved teaching more than research and poured his energy into preparing effective lectures using the case method.

He was an avid reader and book collector.

Kurt was a lifelong, devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over the course of his life he served as a bishop, in a stake presidency, as a temple ordinance worker, in the Family History Center, as ward music chairman, and as a ward organist in nearly every congregation he called home. In Washington D.C., he kept a minivan specifically so he could drive others to appointments, deliver food, move furniture, chauffeur missionaries to their meetings, and check in on anyone who needed help.

Food was one of his love languages. He delighted in meal planning, shopping the sales, and walking the aisles of the supermarket. He loved feeding people, especially the missionaries, and his homemade rolls were legendary. Holidays always involved opening his home to others. He compiled a book of his mother’s recipes as part of her life history.

Music remained one of Kurt's great joys throughout his life. He loved the piano and made his 1926 Steinway a fixture of the home. He loved attending his children’s and grandchildren’s concerts and musicals.

Kurt is survived by his wife, Linda Cropper Christensen, and his children, Shelly (Jeff) Olivier, Kevin (Audrey) Christensen, Derek (Brooke) Christensen, and Janene (David) Silvers, as well as 16 grandchildren.

He will be remembered for his generosity, his devotion to his family and faith, and for how naturally he made others feel fed, cared for, and loved.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the OUR Center in Longmont, CO, where Kurt volunteered each month to feed meals to the homeless.

Services & Schedule of Events

• Viewing: Tuesday, July 21st, at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel in Longmont, CO. Family is invited to gather starting at 5:00 PM; public viewing for friends will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served, and parking is available in the lot across the street.

• Funeral Service: Thursday, July 23rd, at 5:00 PM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lyons, CO. An optional viewing will precede the service starting at 4:00 PM.

o Zoom Meeting ID 928 3997 4342 https://zoom.us/j/92839974342?pwd=kcrwSbESwrCDttBd740SWpMoLBHDFJ.1

• Burial: Tuesday, July 28th, at 11:00 AM at the Salt Lake City Cemetery at this location.

All times are in Mountain Daylight Time.