Dr. Robert Quinn Christensen, age 89, of Carroll, IA, passed away on Monday, July 18, 2022 at Regency Park in Carroll surrounded by his family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 A.M. on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at Holy Sprit Catholic Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll with Fr. Kevin Richter as Celebrant. Lector will be Tim Fitzpatrick. Music for the Mass will be by Kathy Halbur and the Holy Spirit Choir. Gift Bearers will be his children Claudia, Bill, and Rick. Eucharistic Minister will be Karen Hess. Casket bearers: Dan Weitl, Gerald Clausen, Ed Haberl, Greg Haberl, Tim Fitzpatrick, Todd Schimmer, and Bill Hess. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
A Knights of Columbus Rosary will be prayed at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday at Holy Spirit Church with public visitation following from 10 – 10:45 A.M. prior to the Mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com
Robert was born on February 12, 1933 in Algona, IA, and was the son of Roy V. and Zita (Quinn) Christensen. He grew up in Algona where he graduated from Algona High School in 1951. Following high school he attended the University of Iowa where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Medicine in 1955 and his Doctorate of Medicine in 1958 where he was Phi Beta Kappa in the Honorary Academic Society. He served his internship at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene, Oregon. Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1959 and served two years stationed at Tuslog Headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey as Dispensary Commander with the rank of Captain. Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Iowa City where he served a one year fellowship in the Pathology Department. He was married to Patricia Ann Cahill on June 18, 1962 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City by Msgr. Meinberg. The couple made their home in Menominee, WI, where he began practicing as a family physician at the Red Cedar Clinic. The Christensen’s moved to Carroll in 1964 where he worked at the Kuker Clinic as a family physician. Dr. Christensen practiced medicine in Carroll as a board certified family physician for 36 years retiring in 1998. He was a member of Holy Spirit Parish and he was a Fourth Degree Knight with the Carroll Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Carroll Rotary Club. Dr. Christensen served on the Carroll City Council for ten years serving as Mayor for two years. He was on the Carroll Area Development Commission for over 20 years. He served as President of the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians in the mid 1980’s. He was on the University of Iowa Alumni Association board of directors for six years representing the College of Medicine. He was on the commission for continuing education for the American Academy of Family Physicians, he was liaison to the National Arthritis Foundation and on the continuing education committee for the National Arthritis Foundation. He enjoyed golfing, gardening, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Dr. Christensen is survived by his wife Patricia of Carroll; a daughter Claudia Christensen of Des Moines; two sons Richard Christensen (Vicky) of Omaha and William Christensen (Laurie Kinne) of East Lansing, MI; four grandchildren: Mahalah, Ryan, Patrick, and Garrett; sisters-in-law: Mary Ellen Steckly of Clarence, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Zita Christensen; his in-laws Wilma and Bill Cahill.
