Christian, Donald E.

It is with sadness we announce the passing of our father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at his home in Fort Frances, Ontario. Don was born in Fort Frances on December 11, 1923, returning shortly after with his parents, Ernest Jess and Amelia May Christian, to their 1903 homestead four miles north and two miles west of Barwick, Ontario. Don was the fifth of six children. He attended Shenston #5 but was always mechanically-minded and enjoyed skipping school to work on his dad's farm or logging equipment, or to work at Sam Booth's blacksmith shop across from the school. After the accidental death of their father on May 6,1940, it left the eldest son, Wesley, and two daughters, Ethel and Ruth, to look after their brothers, Russell, 18, Don, 16, and Cliff, 13. Russell and Don had to support their mother and keep Cliff in school. They ran the farm and kept logging for a short time. When the timber prices dropped in November, 1940, Don then decided to look for work in Fort Frances. He started working for Tyne Motors, and continued supporting his mother and younger brother in school. In mid-summer of 1941, George Armstrong asked Don to come and work for him as George owned one truck at that time. Don continued working for George through all the challenges and expansions of George Armstrong Company for the next 46 years. Besides working full-time with George, Don purchased seven used trucks of his own in 1974 and had them work for George and O & M paper, and other companies. He also had two draglines and a dozer, as well a doing irrigation drains in the district and crane work. Don incorporated Christian Trucking Ltd. in 1980. He built his family home on 1106 Scott St. , where he still lived until his passing. Don enjoyed spending time with his family at his summer resident on Reff Point. He also was a 50-plus year member of the Oddfellows Lodge #351, and an active member of the Zion Lutheran Church. Don was predeceased by his wife of 49 years, Johanna Christian; brother-in-law, Colin Peter Magnusson; father-in-law, Andrew Magnusson and wife, Mary, and their infant daughters, Kirsten and Thora; step-mother-in-law, Theresa Magnusson; his parents, Ernest Jess and Amelia May Christian; two brothers, Wesley Christian and wife, Beatrice, and Russell Dean Christian; two sisters, Ethel and husband, Bill Booth, and Ruth and husband, Bob Abbott; and son-in-law, James Blair. He leaves to mourn one brother, Cliff Christian and wife, Bernadine, of Kelowna, B.C. ; his children, Gary Christian and fiancee, Carolyne, of Marathon, Ontario and his children Benj of Marathon and Sara of Fort Frances, Ontario; Deena Christian and her children, Michael and wife, Barbie Blair, of Sault Ste. Marie. Ontario and Michelle Blair of Thunder Bay, Ontario; Andy Christian and his wife, Trudy, of Thunder Bay, Ontario and their children, Shae and husband, Steve Felix, of Fort Frances, Ontario and Misty Christian of Thunder Bay, Ontario; Edward Christian of Cambridge, Ontario; Susan and husband, Henry Sieders, of Fort Frances, Ontario, and their children Blake of Barrie, Ontario, Eric of Fort Frances, Ontario, and Kevin of B.C. ; Les Christian and wife, Patty, of Fort Frances, Ontario, and their children, Christopher and Brian of Fort Frances, Ontario; and Keith Christian and his children, Ryna, Cole, and Skylar of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Don also is survived by great grandchildren, Travis, Krystal, Mitchel, and Cassidy Blair of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Gabriella and Christiana Peters of Fort Frances, Ontario, and Cohen Felix of Fort Frances, Ontario and many special nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 24, 2006 at 9:30 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Frances. Pastor Brian Keffer will officiate, with interment in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances. Visitation will be held Friday, June 23, 2006 from 7-9 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Fort Frances. The Oddfellow Lodge #351 will provide their memorial service at 7:30 p.m. The pallbearers will be his sons, Gary Christian, Andy Christian, Edward Christian, Les Christian, and Keith Christian, and son-in-law Henry Sieders. Honourary pallbearers will be his friends and Oddfellow Lodge Members. Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to either the Zion Lutheran Church Handicap Access Fund, 1105 Scott St. , Fort Frances, Ontario, P9A 1J7 or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 920 Frenette Ave. , Fort Frances, Ontario, P9A 3N4, or c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ontario, P9A 3M8.