Donald Ross Christensen

Donald Christensen passed away on October 19, 2026, at The Gardens at Collinwood in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Don was born on August 26, 1928, in Calamus, Iowa, to Ruth and Ivan Christensen. During the Great Depression, Don, his brothers, and his parents worked hard on their farm, learning the values of hard work, perseverance, and family.

When Don was in fifth grade, the family moved to a farm near Lost Nation, Iowa. It was there that his lifelong love of music began when he convinced his parents to buy him a clarinet. He later taught himself to play his brother’s saxophone so he could earn money playing for dances with a polka band and an orchestra. Music would remain a cherished part of Don’s life for the rest of his days.

Don also loved baseball and basketball. During his senior year of high school, he played in a basketball tournament in Dubuque, Iowa. One of the referees was the coach at the University of Dubuque, who offered Don a full basketball scholarship. While attending the university, Don met the first love of his life, Shirley Stankee. One day, he offered Shirley a ride from Wheatland to Dubuque in his Model A, and a romance was born. After graduating with a degree in biology, Don returned to Calamus to teach high school science, physics, and chemistry. He soon proposed to Shirley, and they were married on January 1, 1950, beginning a loving partnership that would span more than 55 years.

In 1952, Don’s father-in-law, P.W. Stankee invited him to join the growing family farm equipment business in Wheatland, Iowa. Don became a partner alongside his three brothers-in-law, Paul, Glen, and Bob. Throughout his 40-year career, he was known for his honest and respectful dealings with employees, customers, and manufacturers. While living in Wheatland, Don and Shirley welcomed three sons: Don J., Rhys, and Mark. Don was an active member of the community, coaching his sons’ baseball teams and serving on the boards of the local school district, telephone company, and nursing home.

Music remained central to Don and Shirley’s lives. Together with others, they helped establish the Koina Choral Society, which performed Handel’s Messiah every Christmas for hundreds of residents across Eastern Iowa. Shirley played the pipe organ, and Don sang tenor in the choir. They also performed in numerous musicals, sharing their love of music with their community. While the boys were in high school, Don and Shirley hosted an exchange student from Chile, Raul Parraquez, and that relationship grew into a lifelong friendship with Raul and his family. Don retired in 1992, and he and Shirley moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, to be closer to family. He stayed busy working part-time at Burroughs, Paul Wood Florist, and Shamrock Shuttle, while making time to attend his grandchildren’s games and concerts. Shirley passed away in January 2005 following a fall.

In time, Don found companionship and love again with his next-door neighbor, Joann Daugaard. They were married on December 7, 2006. Through this marriage, Don’s family grew to include nine stepchildren along with dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He relished the love, laughter, and activity of his expanded family. The Daugaard family affectionately named Don their “Faux Pa”. When Don’s memory began to decline about ten years ago, Joann became his steadfast caregiver, providing him with devoted love and support.

Don is survived by two of his sons, Don J. and Rhys. His third son, Mark (Karen), preceded him in death on October 1, 2026. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Cara (Wyatt), Chase (Diane), Casi (Nick), and Kelsey, and six great-grandchildren. Through his marriage to Joann, Don is also survived by his stepchildren Jan (Steve), Karen (Allen), Kathleen, Mike (Margo, deceased), Mark (Maureen), Matt (Christine), Trish (David), and Susan (David), as well as dozens of step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Don was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley; his son, Mark; his three brothers and their wives, Vic (Doris), Bob (Esther), and Loren (Mary Ann); his daughter-in-law, Judy Christensen (Rhys); and his stepdaughter, Barb King and her husband, Larry.

A private Celebration of Life for family is being planned at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Fort Collins on November 6th.

Don’s family is grateful for the care and compassion he received from the staff at Bristol Hospice and The Gardens at Collinwood. There, he was fondly known as “Papa” and “the sweet old man with a song in his heart”.