Clinton C. Christianson

CHRISTIANSON, Clinton C.
of Lake Elmo, MN

Clinton Curtis Christianson, the epitome of thoughtful, quiet achievement, died peacefully at the age of 87 at the Gables of Boutwells Landing on Monday, April 4th, 2016, at 2:20 pm, with family and friends at his side.

Clinton is survived by his three sons, Eric (Patricia), Todd (Trudy), and Joel (Kim) Christianson; his daughter, Amy (Richard) Goerwitz; twelve grandchildren and nine great grandchildren; his brother LaVerne (Eleanor) Christianson; and his brothers-in-law, Paul (Carol) & John (Marilyn) Streif.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley, and parents Christ and Clara (Titterud); as well as by his brother Wendell (Arlys) Christianson and sister Anarine (Lawrence) Lovegren.

Clinton was born at home on Pine Crest Farm (100th Street at 13th Avenue) in Black Brook Township, to Christ and Clara (Titterud) Christianson on September 25, 1928—the same month when penicillin was discovered and the first live play was broadcast on television; a time of hope and expectation soon to be muted by the Great Depression and World War II.

When Clinton was five, a tornado swept through the family farm.  His mother Clara and older brother LaVerne looked on in alarm from the kitchen door of the house as his father rescued Clint from the barn only to get as far as the hitching post before the tornado hit.  Somehow Christ was able to hold onto both Clint and the hitching post as the tornado wiped out the barn just 30 feet away.  Miraculously both were unscathed, though Clint's shoes were torn off his feet and never found.

Clint learned from his mother the values of patience and kindness.  From his self-educated father he learned how to learn, and how to build and fix everything.  As a child, Clint attended the two-room Black Brook Elementary School, and for three years was the only pupil in his grade. Valedictorian of the Amery High School class of 1946, Clint was the first family member to graduate from college, receiving two bachelor's degrees with high distinction from the University of Minnesota in 1951.

Clint went on to work for General Electric, where he completed their Ph.D.-equivalent Advanced Engineering Program.  From GE Clint moved on to Gould, and eventually to Argonne National Laboratory, leaving behind him not only a string of patents, new products, and other technical achievements, but also a series of successful teams and leadership assignments, focused primarily on the development of electrical controls, propulsion systems, batteries, and fuel cells.

While work played a large part of Clint’s life, his religious faith and family were really closest to his heart.  As a child, Clint's family attended the Deer Park United Methodist Church, where Clint was confirmed as a teenager.  It was there, through the joint church youth group with the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, that he first got to know his eventual spouse, Shirley Frances Streif.

Although the details are murky, and are rumored to have involved collusion among their parents, we know that Shirley ended up, for one reason or another, hitching a lot of rides into the Twin Cities with Clint in his Crosley on his way to the U (Mounds Midway School of Nursing, Shirley’s school, being more or less on the way).  It was through those rides that Clint and Shirley fell in love, and although Shirley’s school forbade marriage until after graduation, Clint, in one of the only rascally acts anyone in his family can recall him perpetrating, married her secretly on January 1, 1952, in a private ceremony at the Streif home east of Clear Lake, with just their immediate families and a minister in attendance.

Shirley became the center of Clint’s life.  Over the course of their 64-year marriage, they raised four children and lived in four states (NY, MA, IL, and MN), but all the while held on to their family and friends in rural Wisconsin.

Clint will be remembered for his service to his church (most recently the St. Croix Valley United Methodist Church, where he served on numerous committees, coordinated the prayer chain, and helped with the monthly food harvest distribution) and to various charitable organizations, such as Meals on Wheels and the Christ Recovery Center.  He will also be remembered for his modesty and willingness, not only to lead, but also to support and to serve.

Throughout his life, Clint rarely, if ever, said an unkind word about anyone.  He loved unconditionally, offering support and working quietly in the background, strengthening and guiding.  He was on time, prepared, fully present.  And he was respected by everyone.

Clint loved and was loved.  He will be greatly missed.

Visitation will be on Friday, April 15, 2016, from 10 am to 12 pm at Boutwells Landing Auditorium, 13575 58th Street, Oak Park Heights, MN 55082, with a funeral service there at noon followed by a luncheon.  There will also be a visitation/lunch on Saturday, April 16, from 11 am to 1 pm at the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake, WI, with the funeral service to follow at 1 pm.  Officiating are the Rev. Bruce Ruggles and the Rev. John Hazen. Music will be provided by Lyle & Margie Merriman and Barb Kolbe.

Casketbearers are grandsons David Christianson, Ethan Christianson, Jared Christianson, Jeremy Christianson, Joshua Christianson, Reniel Christianson, Richard Goerwitz IV and Bruce Thao. Interment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, WI.  

The Scheuermann-Hammer Funeral Home of Clear Lake, WI, is handling the arrangements.  Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.  Send cards, letters, or memories to Amy Goerwitz, 203 Woodley Street West, Northfield, MN 55057 or amy@goerwitz.com .

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