Hermann Christiansen

AITKIN -- Hermann Christiansen, 89, Aitkin, died Wednesday, April 3, 2002, at Aicota Nursing Home where he had been living for several years.

He was born Nov. 2, 1912, in Clear Lake, Iowa, to Anna and Christian Christiansen. The family moved to the Palisade area about 1915. He attended Palisade school and graduated from Minnesota College, a Lutheran high school in Minneapolis. He worked as a carpenter for Zonteli Brothers, Crosby, and later for Herbison Bridge Co., originally in Brainerd, and later in Minneapolis. He ended his working life as general superintendent for Foley Brothers, Minneapolis, managing the construction of bridges around the Twin Cities and across the Missouri River at Chamberlin, S.D., and Sioux City, Iowa, and the interstate bridge at Hudson, Wis. He was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Palisade, which, as a boy, he helped his father design and build. He married Frieda Grob, Palisade. They lived in Palisade until 1960 and in Minneapolis until 1976 before retiring to Aitkin.

Survivors include his wife; a son, David Christiansen, Des Moines, Iowa; two grandchildren; and two brothers, Arthur Christiansen, Aitkin, and Harold Christiansen, Grand Rapids.

A brother, Gordon; and three sisters, Lydia, Mary and Margaret, died earlier.

Graveside services will be at Pine Grove Cemetery at a later time. Arrangements are with the Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin. Memorials are preferred to Bethel Lutheran Church in Palisade.