William Edmund “Bill” Christensen

William Edmund “Bill” Christensen, 81, of Galesburg, Illinois, died Wednesday June 14,

2017 at Butterworth-Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

William was born January 10, 1936, in Hart, Michigan, the son of August T. and Jean

(Gathercoal) Christensen. He married Martha E. Beaty March 30, 1958, at Immanuel

Baptist Church in Monmouth, Illinois. She preceded him in death on July 31, 2010.

William is survived by two sons, David (Becky) Christensen of Galesburg and Jeff

(Pamela) of Augusta, Michigan; a daughter, Karen (Steven) Hoybook of Coon Rapids,

Minnesota; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, with one on the way. Bill

was preceded in death by his brother, August Christensen, and his parents.

Bill graduated from Pentwater High School in 1954, and then attended Bethel College in

St. Paul, Minnesota, where he met Martha Beaty, who became the love of his life and

wife of 52 years. While at Bethel, Bill played on the college baseball and football teams.

Bill then attended the University of Michigan studying civil engineering. Bill was a

lifelong University of Michigan football fan. Bill later graduated from Western Michigan

University with a Master’s Degree in Education.

Bill began his working life as a civil engineer in Alaska building bridges. After Bill and

Martha were married, they moved to Alaska, where David was born. Bill always loved

his time in Alaska and had always hoped he could return one day.

Bill and Martha returned from Alaska in 1961 and Bill started his career in education. He

started as a classroom teacher in Pentwater, his home town, and taught in several other

districts in Western Michigan, including a one-room school in Shelby, Michigan. In

1970, Bill moved his family to Vermontville, Michigan, where he was a school principal.

In 1987, Bill and Martha moved to Grand Marais, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula to be

Superintendent of Schools. Bill retired in 1997, moving to Galesburg to become the first

administrator of the Galesburg Christian School.

Bill retired in 2000 and began spending his summers “up north” in Scottville, Michigan,

and winters “down south” in Galesburg. Bill was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in

Galesburg, and attended Victory Baptist Church in the summer in Michigan. Bill served

on the Elder Board and Missions Committee at Bethel.

Bill loved to help others and was an excellent carpenter. He volunteered at Habitat for

Humanity in Michigan, volunteered for the ambulance crew in Grand Marais, and FISH