David Lee Christensen, 83, of Sparta, unexpectedly passed away Jan. 7, 2026, in Sparta, surrounded by family.
He was born Feb. 7, 1942, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, to Frederick Henry and Myrtle Jane Sanders Christensen.
Dave grew up with his loving parents and his siblings, Cindy and Freddy.
As a little boy, Dave became a local celebrity being featured on the front page of the local paper with his best friend, Zeke the duck. Dave had many different types of jobs long before adulthood. He caught tadpoles, harvested mud for the local spa, worked clearing tables at restaurants, and collecting bottles for the brewery where his dad worked.
After graduating high school, Dave received a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. His post-degree work started with him in charge of food and beverage management at hotels and restaurants throughout the Midwest.
Eventually, he was recruited to manage Dick’s, a local restaurant in Platteville, where he met Julie, the best waitress and the most “good-lookin’ wench” he’d ever seen. They joined together in marriage, on Dec. 14, 1977.
As their marriage flourished, he began to manage the grounds of Summerfest, a music festival, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his dear friend and sometimes accomplice, Tom Barbian.
Due to their adventurous spirits, they headed south into the warmth of Texas, but Texas fought back. After several close encounters with the local coral snakes, rattlesnakes, water moccasins, fire ants, and scorpions, their small family of five ran back to the safety of the great white north, in Marshall, Michigan. There they met their lifelong friends and Sheepshead cohorts, Mark and Laurie Vincent.
Dave was inspired for their next adventure to relocate to Schaumburg, Illinois, where he began working as a Facilities Manager for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, overseeing more than 30 buildings throughout Chicagoland. In this new position, Dave found what he had been looking for professionally and remained in this role until he happily retired in the early 2000’s. Dave was a Jack-of-all-trades, could “fix” anything with enough duct tape and 2x4’s, and was a quick friend to all those he met.
After retirement, he became a personal chef to Julie. His favorite (and hers) was his famous chicken fried steak, with “thwok” gravy, of course. Friends and family alike would clamor for an invitation or sometimes just drop by when the amazing scent wafted their way. The Christensen home was a gathering place for the 4 S’s and all their friends. The door was always open, for a place to rest, a good laugh, a warm meal, or some of Dave’s sage advice.
Dave and Julie moved to Iowa as she concluded her career. Upon retirement, they settled into a lakeside cabin, in Sparta, Tennessee, where he continued his not-so-secret passion of antiques, storage unit finds, and garage sale fanaticism. His was a heart always looking for the next great deal.
Those who knew a younger Dave, would never have guessed the changes the Savior would make in his life and that of his family. Dave and Julie know the only reason they went on their adventure to Texas was to meet two young missionaries and be taught about eternal families, and the love our Heavenly Father has for each of us. They learned of God’s plan for us and by joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, changed the trajectory of their family’s life forever. They were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Chicago Illinois Temple, on April 25, 1986. They know they will not only see Dave again but will be together forever.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Mert; brother, Frederick C. Christensen; father-in-law and mother-in-law, ; Arthur S. and Norma E. Johnson Fenske and their children Jeanette, Stuart, Jerry, and Kim.
Papa Dave “Lard Bucket” Christensen is survived by his adoring sister and life-long friend, Cynthia “Fats” (David) Dankert; and his sisters-in-law, Colleen (Fred) Christensen, Sally (Charles) Rix.
He will be extremely missed by his best friend and loving wife of 48 years, Julie M. (Fenske) Christensen, and children Sadie (Gabriel) Barrientos, Scott Christensen, Shayna (Timothy) Blackmon, Sanders P. (Rita) Christensen, Helle (Keld) Schade-Sørensen and his cherished grandchildren, Jacob, Hannah, and Ezra Barrientos; Aaron and W. Joseph Christensen; Sanders L., Jenna, Elisha, Nathaniel, and Evelyn Blackmon; Asher, Bronson, Carsten, and Daivik Christensen; Kasper and Josephine Schade-Sørensen, and many treasured cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
A memorial service was 3 p.m., Jan. 17, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Sparta.
Oak Lawn Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
