Velma Christensen
January 16, 2017
Velma Christensen, 87, passed away on January 16, 2017, at Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center, Iowa. She was born in Old Carrollton, Iowa, on April 12, 1929, to Frank and Ada Sparks.
Velma retired from John Deere DSM Works. She enjoyed jewelry, gardening, taking care of her home and spending time with her family.
Velma is survived by her children, Connie (Mark) Chartrand, Steve Christensen, Dave Christensen, Debbie (Dave) Cummins, and Gary (Melody) Christensen; 16 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and 1 great great-granddaughter; as well as her siblings, Minnie Shultz, Franklin Sparks, and Hermis Sparks. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughters, Vickie Diana and Rita Gail; brothers, Merville, Charles, and Calvin; and her sister, Velda.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 22, 2017, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines with visitation one hour prior to service time. Inurnment will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Westlawn Cemetery in Glidden, Iowa.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Cinda Yates
01/22/2017
I worked with Velma at John Deere. I had so much admiration for her and learned a lot from her. I know what kind of a woman she was and so I know she will be so dearly missed. Much love and comfort to Velma's family.
Chris Bash
01/19/2017
Dave and family I'm so sorry for your loss.
Sue Wolfe
01/19/2017
My condolences to the Christensen
Family!
Thoughts and prayers coming your way.
Steve please get ahold of me when you get back to AZ.
My mom was a Sparks!
Prayers!
Robin Tedesco
01/19/2017
Gary, I'm so very sorry for the loss of your Mom. My thoughts, prayers and condolences to your family.
Ronald Sparks
01/19/2017
Our deepest condolences to the Family of Velma Christensen. I grew up knowing her as my Aunt Arlene, Sister of my Father, and Mother of some of my cousins. There were many gathering at my Grandfathers house on the farm and there was always lots of room to play for all us cousins while the grown ups visited and conversed while fixing the Sunday dinner. Most of the gatherings were on Sunday because otherwise there was school and work on the farm. So all us kids would take full advantage of our time together. And for the most part I think it gave the grown ups a little bit of a break to relax. Over the years, we had moved farther apart from each other, but everyone was still in our hearts. Aunt Arlene will be truly missed by us here, but now she can relax and have those conversations and visits with the other loved ones who have left this plain for the great beyond. Aunt Arlene, you will always be in our hearts.
Lisa Christensen
01/18/2017
As we mourn the Loss of our Grandma, and great Grandma, I like to be reminded of this quote: Because someone we love is in heaven, there's a bit of heaven in our home.
I am also reminded of some lyrics by one of my favorite broadway song from Rent wrote by Donny Osmond:
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets
In midnights, in cups of coffee
In inches, in miles
In laughter, in strife
five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in the life
How about love?
From knowing Velma and her legacy, I can look to her life as an example of love.
Scott, Kathy,Terry and Shelly Young
01/18/2017
Our thoughts and condolences to all of Velma's family.
SHARON SPARKS BOUNDS
01/18/2017
Dearest family,
Jim and I send our love, thoughts and prayers to all at this sad time! We will be with you in spirit this week!
Love and prayers,
Jim, Sharon & family
Michelle Hodges
01/16/2017
My heart goes out to the family on the loss of your mother and grandmother. Velma was like a 2nd mother to me when I was growing up, She will be greatly missed.