Duane "Diz" Christensen

Memorial donations may be made to

Salem Lutheran Home in Elk Horn

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Duane Lydell “Diz” Christensen was born in Atlantic, IA on July 30, 1949, to N. Elmer and Ruby (Juelsgaard) Christensen.  They moved to a farm outside of Elk Horn in 1951. Duane attended school in Elk Horn and participated in activities such as 4-H and Pee Wee baseball, where one of his friends comparing him to Dizzy Dean gave him the nickname “Diz” that stuck with him the rest of his life. At Elk Horn-Kimballton High School, Diz sang in the chorus, ran track and played football; he was all-conference and homecoming king his senior year;  he graduated in 1967.  After working a variety of jobs as a young man, Diz settled into a career with Northwestern Bell and US West/Qwest.  He lived just outside of Elk Horn in an A-frame house he designed himself.  Diz moved to Council Bluffs and later Crescent, where he and his wife, Kay, built a ranch house and large steel building.  Diz had a strong interest in Harley-Davidsons, owning a Road King Classic, a Harley-Davidson Golf Cart and a 1949 Harley-Davidson Pan Head- all original - one of his prize possessions.  He also enjoyed vehicle restoration and most recently restored a 1970 Chevy C10 pickup, winning first prize in the only show he entered it in.  He had a soft spot for special needs kids and donated time to Special Olympics.  He enjoyed time spent with family, especially being a mentor to his great nephew, Brady.  And, he always had time for his friends and looked forward to their visits.  Diz passed away on Nov. 14, 2017 in Council Bluffs, IA.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Sherlyn Roberts.  He is survived by his wife, Kay Schilling; brother Gary (Jeanne) Christensen, their children Sherry Minor, Nick McKinney and Sean McKinney all of Omaha, NE; Kay’s family: her sister Diane (Bob) Heer of Zwingle, IA: brother Dale (Elaine) Schilling of East Dubuque, IL; nephew Shawn (Jeannie) Heer of Maquoketa, IA;  niece Laurie (Terry) Dale; niece Jodi Heer; great nephew Brady Clark; great nieces, Lauren Clark, Tia Dale and Brooke Dale all of Omaha, NE, other relatives and a literal army of friends, and a very special cat “Charlie”.

Congregational Hymns

“How Great Thou Art”

“I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry” “On Eagle’s Wings”

Nancy Watson, Accompanist

 

Casketbearers

Steve Nuzum    Tom Potts    Dean Christensen    Bernie Kaltoft   
Bob Heer    Brady Clark    Jerry Harder

 

Honorary Casketbearer       JD Molgaard