Patti Lynne (Burnham) Christensen

Monday, October 1, 2018 2:34 pm

Patti Lynne (Burnham) Christensen, 58, of Waterloo, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018m from heart failure, at home. Visitation is from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway, 233-3393, in Waterloo, where there will be a 6:30 p.m. prayer service. Memorials may be directed to the family. Condolences may be left with hagartywaychoffgraurp.com.

Patti was born July 13, 1960, in Abilene, Texas, to William and Betty (Carpenter) Burnham. With her father being in the military, her family moved a lot while she was growing up. After spending some of her childhood in Texas, Oklahoma and Michigan, she graduated from Dubuque Hempstead High School in 1978. After graduation, Patti worked as an administrative assistant.

Patti met the love of her life, David Paul Christensen, July 13, 1978, and they were married May 25, 1985, in Des Moines. This union was blessed with two sons, Shane and Heath. She also enjoyed being step-mom to Eric Christensen.

The family resided in Bondurant until Dave’s job transferred them to Harrisonburg, Va. in 1989. While in Virginia, Patti worked for the Department of Transportation. In 1995, the family moved back to Iowa. Patti worked various jobs in the Ossian and Decorah areas. Patti moved to Waterloo in 2017 to be closer to her boys and grandchildren.

Patti’s greatest joy in life was spending time with her family and friends. She loved going to her boys’ athletic events when they were younger. She was extremely proud of her sons and loved being a “grammy” to Jack, Owen, Lilly and Max.

Patti also enjoyed sweets, being outside and having conversations with friends or strangers who would quickly become friends. Anyone who spent time with Patti would describe her as having a heart of gold. She truly loved people and would do anything she could for those she loved.

Left to mourn her loss are sons: Shane (Shelly) of Cedar Falls, Heath (Ashley) of Waterloo, Eric (Marty) of Des Moines; grandchildren: Jack and Owen Christensen, Lilly and Max Kapler; mother, Betty Burnham and sister, Paula Huss of Davenport, Fla.; brother-in-law, Don Stover; nephews, Cody and Casey Huss; nieces, Lori (Steve) Anderson and Jodi (Skip) Rushing.

Patti was preceded in death by her husband, David, in 2010; father, William Burnham; parents-in-law Earl and Delores Christensen; sister-in-law Peg Stover; nephew Matthew Sandblom.