Anita Christian

Anita Marie Christian, 83, former Tacoma resident, passed away on Tuesday June 22 in Vancouver, WA. Anita was born January 1, 1938 to Halvor and Lillian Gregersen in Santa Barbara, CA where she spent her early years.  She was baptized in the Danish Lutheran Church in Solvang, CA. At age 11, Anita moved to Canby, OR. She sang in the school choir and graduated from Canby High School in 1955. She was a member of Zoar Lutheran Church in Canby. After high school, Anita moved to Tacoma to attend Pacific Lutheran College where she majored in elementary education graduating in 1959. Her first teaching position was in the Shoreline School District outside of Seattle.
    In 1961, Anita married David Christian and they moved to Parkland where David worked at PLU and Anita taught in the Franklin Pierce School District. Anita taught 1st grade at both Elmhurst Elementary and Brookdale Elementary for many years. PLU and Trinity Lutheran Church, where Anita and David were members, were very important to Anita. She chaired the Yule Boutique for numerous years and Anita’s decorating and hospitality were known throughout PLU and Trinity. David and Anita loved to travel and they had many adventures. They went to Japan, Germany, England, Africa, Australia, Norway and Denmark.
    In 1974, Anita and David welcomed their son, Aaron, into the world. Anita took time off from her teaching job to be a stay at home mom. During this time, Anita was active in Aaron’s activities and school as he grew older. When Aaron entered middle school, Anita began subbing and eventually ended up teaching full-time again at Brookdale Elementary until her retirement. Anita was a supportive wife and mother. She embraced Aaron’s love for sports and coaching even though she didn’t understand everything about it. You could always hear Anita in the bleachers shouting out, “Good guarding” to Aaron’s basketball teams, whether he was playing or coaching. Anita loved being a grandma to Evan and Connor and whenever she visited she would bring books to share with them from her expansive library from her years teaching. Anita was proud of her Danish heritage, spoke Danish and loved sharing her favorite Danish foods with others. 
    Anita was predeceased by her parents, Halvor and Lillian Gregersen, and husband, David Christian. She is survived by son, Aaron Christian and his wife Julie; grandsons, Evan and Connor; sister, Margrethe Farnstrom (Gene); and two nephews and their families.

Funeral Service will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church, 12115 Park Ave S, Tacoma, WA on Wed, July 14 at Noon

Any memorial donations in Anita’s name can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 12115 Park Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98444

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