Jack Joseph Christensen Sr.

He was born in Memphis Tennessee on May 31, 1920, to Moore Pond and Loretta Rose Crosby Christensen. Jack entered the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served with the 308th Bomb Group Heavy as a radio operator/Aerial Gunner in China with the Flying Tigers during WWII. He gave more than 27 years of honorable service to the USAF. His decorations included the Earned Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal. He married Gladys Kathryn Luebke on July 31, 1942. He graduated from Troy State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Mr. Christensen loved the outdoors and belonged to the Sierra Club, taught canoe paddling and took many canoe, camping, hiking and biking trips. A conservationist he taught his grandchildren to appreciate the outdoors.

His survivors include his wife Gladys Christensen; sister, Helen Louse Harrington of Memphis, TN; son, Jack Joseph Christensen, Jr. and daughter-in-law Maria Carrisalez Christensen; daughter, June Marie Christensen Gentine and son-in-law Richard David Gentine; 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 25, 2011 from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm at Zoeller Funeral home. A rosary will be recited Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm. Graveside services will be Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 1:45 pm at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.