Mary Jane Christiansen

Mary Jane Christiansen was called home to the Lord on October 25, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born March 23, 1931, to Arthur and Frances Reindl on the generational family farm in Somers, WI. From a young girl, she enjoyed working with her dad to help him operate the farm. She was educated at the local schools, including the original Hillcrest School, which was located at the present-day intersection of 47th Avenue, and Washington Road in Somers. She continued her education at the St. George School in Kenosha.

On October 29, 1949, Mary Jane married Albert T. Christiansen, Jr. at St. George Catholic Church. She met him while shopping for a motorcycle at the original location of Uke’s Harley Davidson, which was located on 22nd Avenue near 60th Street in Kenosha. Mary Jane and Albert Jr. enjoyed riding motorcycles together year round with her choice of machine being an Indian motorcycle. When their firstborn was on the way, they decided that an automobile would be most appropriate and sold their motorcycles. They enjoyed their four sons with them arriving over the next 20 years of their lives.

Mary Jane enjoyed many interests throughout the course of her life besides motorcycles, including her devout Catholic faith starting at St. George Catholic Church and continuing at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church until its merger with St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. She then continued at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church. Mary Jane was a member of the Catholic Women’s Club, Danish Sisterhood Kathrine Lodge 20, sewing club, and the North American Benefit Insurance Club. Through the years, she enjoyed horseback riding, gardening, cooking, fishing with Albert and her family, marking and scoring high power rifle targets for Albert Jr., working in the office (including shearing sheet metal for surprise customers when all the workers were in the field) at the family’s 85 year old 4th generation union sheet metal shop – Christiansen Heating And Sheet Metal, Inc., riding in open cockpit airplanes while pregnant with their youngest son, and riding in a submarine. She devoted her life to being the best wife to Albert Jr., the best Mom that her boys could ask for, the best mother-in-law, the best grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother, and the best friend to the many people she met throughout her life.

Mary Jane was a 51-year breast cancer survivor. Her loved ones contemplate how different their lives would have been if the cancer had taken her from them.

Accompanying her with the Lord is Albert Jr.; her parents; her brother, Arthur, Jr.; and her firstborn, David. Surviving are her sons Russell (Deborah), Gary (friend Nancy), and Kurt (Amy); daughter-in-law Karen; 6 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; and her nieces and nephews.

Thank you to the staff of Meadowmere Assisted Living, Brookdale Assisted Living, and Hospice Alliance for their support and care. Thank you to Father Roman Stikel and Pastor Charlie Hanson for their support.

The visitation is to take place at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church 7307 40th Avenue Kenosha, WI 53142 at 9:30 AM on Friday, November 3, 2023, with a mass of Christian burial celebrated afterwards at 11:00 AM with interment to follow at All Saints Mausoleum. Donations to Hospice Alliance, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, or St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church on Mary Jane’s behalf would be greatly appreciated.  

Casey Family Options Funerals and Cremations

Stephen P. Casey, Owner and Funeral Director

(262) 653-0667

www.CaseyFamilyOptions.com