Johannes Christiansen
POLSON — Johannes Christiansen, 70, of Polson died on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006 at St. Joseph Hospital, Polson.
He was born on March 28, 1935, in Oevenum, Germany. Oevenum is a small island in the North Sea near Denmark. After finishing school, he worked on a farm. A friend of the family came to visit from America and invited John (as he is called here in the United States) to come to America, the land of many opportunities.
He immigrated to the United States in 1954 and was put to work in a German delicatessen. He couldn't speak one word of English, but had to learn the language while on the job. Many times he spoke of the time when, back in Germany, he had to work several months in order to buy a suit, and when he came to the United States, he only had to work one week in order to buy a suit and even got two pair of pants with a jacket.
In New York there were many opportunities to participate in German dances. One of those dances was held in Franklin Square, Long Island, and another in New Jersey where a young lady by the name of Ina Diers attended. Both John and Ina lived on Long Island, and had the same common interest in dancing, and spent time together dancing. They dated for a short time and John proposed to Ina and they were married on March 24, 1957, at the Lutheran Church of our Savior, In Rego Park, N.Y..
John and Ina owned and operated a delicatessen store for 17 years. They lived in the New York area until 1997, before retiring and moving to Prescott Valley, Ariz., where they lived before moving to Montana in 2003. Not long ago John said, "I love it here, this feels like going home — especially for me, since I came from the country and farm type living."
John was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
He is survived by his wife Ina and two children. Daughter Marret lives with her parents and son John lives in Phoenix, Ariz. John and Ina don't have any grandchildren but their daughter has three dogs and a cat so they are the grandparents of her dogs and cat. Five brothers, Jens, Siegfried, Tony, George and Manfred, and two sisters, Tina Christiansen and Marrett Luders, also survive him.
A memorial service was held on Feb. 4 in the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church with the Rev. Aaron Stinnett officiating. Inurnment was in Lakeview Cemetery.
Cremation and arrangements were under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com