Sally Ann Christensen

Sally Ann Brunnelson was born on Sunday, January 3rd, 1932. She was called to her Heavenly Home on Monday, March 22, 2021. Sally is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lottie Brunnelson, her husband, Bob Christensen, her daughter, Jenny Christensen, and her three brothers – Chuck, Al, and Jim. She is survived by her son, Steve, her daughter, Marcy, and her son-in-law, Brian. She is also survived by her grandchildren – Cassie, Dan, Jessica, Grace, Martin, Peter, Sam, Caroline, and Thomas.

Sally was born into a household of three boys many years older than she. Due to her mother’s smile upon the delivery of a girl, the doctor took $10 off the $45 delivery bill. Sally grew up in Racine on Riverside Drive and graduated from Washington Park High School in 1950. She spent many happy childhood years walking throughout the city, cutting through the cemetery to get to West Racine, meeting her dad, a train engineer on the Milwaukee Road, to catch a quick train ride, and walking to the many church events at Trinity Methodist. It was at Trinity that Sally began to faithfully follow Jesus.

As a young woman, she worked as a secretary at Modine Manufacturing and Case Manufacturing Companies. She met Bob at an ice cream stand in the summer of 1952 and they married August 8 of 1953. Life took her to many different towns as Bob tried to find just the right teaching/coaching position – Winona for grad school, then Rapid River, Holcombe, St. Louis, and Laona. In 1959, Bob and Sally moved to Milwaukee with their son Steve, born in July of 1954, and then welcomed their daughter, Jenny, in 1960. Marcy followed in 1967. Sally was very glad to be so close to Racine, as she missed her folks and her hometown tremendously.

Sally and Bob became members of Milwaukee Evangelical Covenant Church and they made many friends there – Christian brothers and sisters that they kept for their lifetime, no matter where life took everyone. She sang in choir, was involved in Priscilla Circle, taught Sunday School, had a church potluck dinner group, and grew in her Christian walk. Sally took the job of the church secretary in 1970 and retired from that position, after 7 pastors and many changes, in 2015 at the age of 83. Sally also played the piano and organ at the church for worship service, weddings, and funerals.

Sally enjoyed being active in the Wauwatosa Faculty Wives organization, meeting her high school friends for lunch at Southridge every 5th Tuesday, and visiting old friends and relatives across the country. Bob and Sally were gifted in hospitality and made sure that visitors to church had a place for Sunday lunch. They also enjoyed traveling to the North Woods each August for fishing and Florida or Texas in the spring. They also went to Washington DC, Hawaii, California, and Europe.

Sally enjoyed The Golden Girls and Hallmark movies, cryptoquips and crossword puzzles, birds, and sunshine. She didn’t like to challenge people and preferred a life of quiet peace, trusting Jesus had all things covered. Sally was proud of Norwegian Heritage and lived to be a good steward of her finances, her family, and the spiritual gifts she was given.

Gathering at Evangelical Covenant Church, 7727 West Center Street Milwaukee, WI 53222, on Wednesday, March 31st, 2021 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Memorial service at 11:30 AM.