Eldon "Chris" Christensen, 84, died Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Columbus Community Hospital.

The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 17 at 10:30 AM, at Gass Haney Funeral Home with Deacon Danny Hastings officiating.  Interment will be in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery.  Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM on Tuesday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested as those of the family or donors choice.

Chris was born January 17, 1942, in Washington County, Nebraska, on a farm near Arlington to Carl and Minerva (Coen-Will) Christensen.   The family moved to a farm in Platte County where Chris attended Platte County grade school, Platte Center High School and graduated from Columbus High School in 1959.  On September 24, 1961, Chris was united in marriage to Mary Hastings at St Luke's United Church of Christ in Columbus.

Chris began his working career at the young age of 14, working as a pin setter at Blake's Bowling Alley in Columbus.  After graduation from high school, Chris had various jobs such as earth moving, building dams, welding, and short haul truck driving for Soil Movers in Columbus.  He became his own boss in the 1980's when he purchased his own semi-truck and became an owner-operator.  Chris enjoyed traveling the country with his semi for many decades before his retirement.  Retirement did not slow Chris down, he continued to drive bus for local detasseling crews, hauling grain for farmers during harvest season, and doing road maintaining and snow removal for the Bismark Township.

Chris always said that one of the worst days of his life was when he was a freshman in high school and his parents had to sell the farm and move into town.  He loved life on the farm so much that he spent the rest of his life as a part-time hobby farmer and avid gardener.  Chris would grow so much corn and pumpkins that Saturdays were often spent selling goods at the farmer's market.  Pumpkin harvest was a family event for many years.

Chris enjoyed fixing old tractors and giving them a new life.  He was often called upon to repair old Farmall tractors for neighbors and friends in the area.  He enjoyed wood working in his later years and would make garden benches, bird houses, and trinkets for anyone who wanted one.

Chris is survived by:
Wife – Mary Christensen of Columbus, NE
Son – Randy (Dougg) Christensen of San Francisco, CA
Son – Kevin (Kathy) Christensen of Moline, IL
Daughter – Kim (Tim) Schoenberner of Columbus, NE
Grandchildren – Travis (Marisa) Christensen of Columbus, NE; Gina Christensen of San Francisco, CA; Maggie (Jason) Wulf of Sioux City, IA, Abby (Austin) Pelc of Columbus, NE; Aarron (Bobby) Wilson of Omaha, NE; and Andy Christensen of Columbus
Great Grandchildren – Caroline Christensen, Coben Christensen, Bracen Christensen, Rayleen Christensen, Alexis Pelc, Ayda Pelc, and Natalie Wulf
Sister – Joyce (Wayne) Lukert of David City, NE
Brother – Russell (Roseanna) Christensen of Belgrade, NE
Brother-in-law – Geary Hastings of Fayetteville, AR
Brother-in-law – Allen (Terri) Hastings of Albion, IL
Brother-in-law – Richard (Cindy) Hastings, Sr. of Columbus, NE
Brother-in-law – Danny (Carol) Hastings of Schuyler, NE
Many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends

Chris was preceded in death by:
Parents – Carl and Minerva Christensen
Son – Kenny "Boy Boy" Christensen
Sister – Connie Wais
Sister – Jeanette Hastings
In-laws – Tommy sr. and Lula (Maud) Hastings
Brother-in-law – Tommy Hastings Jr.
Brother-in-law – David Hastings
Sister-in-law - Eva Cleary