Kathleen Christensen

Kathleen Christensen, age 96, died Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Cottonwood House in Columbus.

Funeral Services are 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Highland Park Church in Columbus. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday at McKown Funeral Home. Private family burial will take place in Bethany Cemetery, rural Platte County.

Kathleen (Kathy) J. Christensen was born in Harlan Iowa on March 26, 1928, to Boise and Margaret (Mikkelsen) Mushrush.  Despite the Great Depression Kathy enjoyed a carefree childhood in her small Iowa town.  In 1946 she graduated from Harlan High and after a brief stint as a switchboard operator she followed in her older sister's footstep and went to Omaha where she graduated from Clarkson nursing school as a registered nurse.

While in Omaha she met Clay Christensen and the two were wed in December of 1950.  Shortly thereafter they moved to Columbus and started their family where their three boys, Kevin, Brian, and Darin were born.  While Clay ran their small business, Kathy continued her career in nursing, which spanned 39 years. Starting in a private practice until that physician retired, she then took a position as a surgical nurse at St. Mary's hospital.  She took the position of school nurse at Columbus Public Schools where she remained for 27 years.  She loved her job and implemented whole health for the child with testing for eyes, ears, and general wellness.  She modernized and dedicated herself to the care of children and helping families in the process.  She was awarded the School Bell award for outstanding service to the students of the district.

Kathy loved life and had a great spirit of adventure.  Many memories were made as she accompanied her children and grandchildren on many vacations and joined in on all the fun. She was also lifelong learner and enjoyed a good challenging conversation.

Kathy's enduring legacy will be her commitment to her Lord Jesus Christ.  During her nearly 52 years of walking with the Lord, Kathy mentored and ministered to many women.  Through all the hardships of this life, Kathy was a source of strength and courage to others. Her great curiosity in theology and the study of the bible aided her greatly as she sought to grow spiritually and witness to others.  Her commitment to Him also influenced her entire family and set in place a legacy of belief in our savior Jesus Christ. Her entire family knew the source of her strength and witnessed it to the end of her life.  She knew she would be ushered into the presence of the Lord upon her death and welcomed it with great anticipation.  John 11:25-26 assures us if we too have trusted Christ for our salvation, we will most certainly see her again.

Kathy is survived by:
Son: Kevin Christensen
Son: Brian Christensen and wife Sue
Son: Darin Christensen and wife Barb
Grandson: Kyle Christensen (Jerica)
Granddaughter: Anne Christensen
Granddaughter:  Dana Hinman (DJ)
Granddaughter: Jasey Christensen
Granddaughter: Grace Christensen (fiancé Jake)
Great Grandchildren:  Margot, Nels and Mads Christensen; Seren and Selah Hinman

She is preceded in death by:
Husband: Clayton Christensen
Parents: Boise and Margaret Mushmush
Brother: Emmert Mushrush
Sister: Edith Mushrush Frazier