Julia Osborne Christensen

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Christensen, Julia Osborne Beloved wife, sister, auntie, friend, and Presbyterian USA Pastor. Born June 15, 1950. Died November 9, 2018. Julie was a constant source of light to all. Survived by loving husband, Carl Christensen; granddaughter, Tahlia Girton; stepson David Christensen (Renee), stepdaughter Deanne Christensen Girton; sisters Kathleen Vellenga and Anita Cumming (Russ); nieces Charlotte Landreau (Carlos), Carolyn Berman (Greg); and nephews Alan Prosser (Tareneh), Tom Vellenga (Julie Schmid), Brian Prosser (Kitty McBride), Kevin Lane Cummings (Stina), Tim Cummings (Dawn), and Chris Cummings (Tami); and fourteen grand-nieces and - nephews. Julie will also be missed by the staff at Waverly Gardens and dear aides/companions Holly Anderson and Julie Berger. Her parents, Howard and Marjorie Osborne, sister, Janet Prosser, and brother-in-law, Jim Vellenga, preceded Julie in death. Born in Brookings, South Dakota, she graduated from Torrington, Wyoming High School and Macalester College. Julie taught high school in Roseville before being called to the ministry. She graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary and later served on its alumni board. Ordained at Dayton Ave. Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Julie served as associate pastor in DePere, Wisconsin, where she met her husband, Carl. Her ministry continued as pastor in Henryville, Indiana while Carl was in seminary. They were co-pastors in Torrington, Wyoming and in Tipton and Elwood, Indiana. She had a true pastor's heartfull of love for everyone. Grounded in a brilliant understanding of texts and an intimate relationship with God as well as a fierce desire for justice and a deep love of people, Julie delivered her sermons with a lively sense of humor. She tended to the sick and poor in spirit, knew no strangers, and relished taking confirmation students on trips, including Israel, Scotland, and France. Carl and Julie loved the mountains and traveling. When Julie and Carl retired, they moved to Maplewood, MN, then to Waverly Gardens. Julie cared deeply about her family and her dog, Dulcie. Her neighbors at Waverly agree that Julie had a smile and story for everyone. Her outrageous sense of humor brought laughter to all who knew her. A service is planned for Thanksgiving weekend.

Published on November 21, 2018