David Jack Christenson

David Jack Christenson, age 53, Watertown, formerly of Clark, died in the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Sioux Falls, late Wednesday, September 12, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 14, 2012 from 5-7PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and will continue after 12PM at the Church on Saturday. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 1:30 PM in the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark with The Reverend's Sarah Nelson and Robin Schaunaman officiating. Music will be provided by Steve Logan. Casketbearers will be the Christenson nephews Chris, Jason, Jono, Brooks, Tyler, Anthony, Michael, Randy and Jeff, and close friends Mark Engebretson and Joe Beving. Burial with full military honors provided by the Cagley-Smith American Legion Post #60 and the South Dakota Air Army National Guard will take place following in the Clark Center Lutheran Church Cemetery near Clark. David was born June 8, 1959 in Watertown , SD and was raised and attended school in Clark, graduating with the class of 1977. He enrolled at Dakota State, achieving all conference football honors and completing a degree in education. His 5 years in the US Navy gave him opportunities to travel and test his fortitude as he accomplished navy seal training. He loved teaching in Hawaii, Watertown and coaching in the Waverly-South Shore School District. For many years he also was involved in retail sales. David proved to be what his brother Lee predicted - the Ironman, facing challenges on the football field, in service to his country and with the cancer that stole his strength - with true grit and humility. He opened his arms and embraced us all. To sit next to Dave was to share stories about the things he loved: cheering "Go Big Red" with his two boys, lounging at the beach or traveling with his wife Diane, sitting in the garden on summer mornings, listening to his nieces and nephews accounts of growing up, creating his own Toolman videos, laughing with his buddies at past highjinks or sharing a homemade meal with his family while he dished out compliments to the cooks. If a day included any of the people he loved and he could sit in a boat soaking up the sun with a line in the water that was bliss. David taught us all, wife, sons, family, and friends to be strong but unafraid of showing others that you love them and that the most awesome thing in the world is to share time together. Dave would profess his love and appreciation to his loyal brothers, the Christenson boys, to the hospice team from Prairie Lakes Medical, especially hospice nurse Delrita, who came to serve and stayed to share some laughter at the kitchen table, to all his and Diane's friends and co-workers who brought food and meals or sat at his side to help, and to the Schurrer family who welcomed him as husband, brother and son on his wedding day, August 30, 2008, the best day of his life. Preceding him in death were his parents, Burton and Pearl Jean (Hansen) Christenson. Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife Diane Schurrer of Watertown, sons from a previous marriage, David, Jr. and Matthew both of Omaha, brothers, Lee (Rosie) of Watertown, Bob (KrisAnne) of Sioux Falls, Dale (Ann) of Omaha and John (Amy) Of Madison, parents-in-law, Bob and Dorothy Schurrer of Watertown and 2 aunts, Doris Geise of Clark and Clarice Wales of Ohio. www.furnessfuneralhome.com Furness Funeral Home of Clark serving the family.