Doris Anita (Sohr) Christensen

Monday, October 28, 2019 2:16 pm

Doris Anita (Sohr) Christensen was born May 17, 1923, in Davenport, the daughter of Leona (Bales) and Burt Sohr. Doris passed away in the early hours of Oct. 26, 2019, at her unit in Wellington Place nursing home in Decorah. Funeral services for Doris are at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory, with Rev. Clark Olson-Smith officiating. Visitation is from 10 a.m. to the service time at the funeral home. Private family burial will immediately follow at the Springdale Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed by visiting her obituary at snellzornig.com.

At the time of her birth, her father was working as a clown in the Ringling Brothers’ Circus. Her parents were divorced when she was in elementary school; she moved to Clinton, where she was raised during her formative years by her three aunts. She met her husband, Victor Christensen, at business school and married Oct. 24, 1942. They had four children that blessed them in this marriage. Doris and Vic loved their family and friends, and they loved to dance, entertain, and were especially known for over-the-top Christmas decorating. Later in life, Doris was also known for her extensive wardrobe of sweatshirts – multiples for every season and occasion, as reflected in the photo with this obituary.

When her husband was serving in WWII (Army, Pacific deployment), Doris served as a secretary to then Governor Earl Warren in Sacramento, Calif., who later became a supreme court justice. She returned to Iowa when her first child was due.

Doris was known as the consummate entertainer, cook, and baker – at one time baking and decorating elaborate wedding cakes (and for her kids: birthday cakes). Her career re-started after the children grew up; she spent time in the insurance business and then became a licensed realtor and eventually a broker for her own agency in Clinton with another female broker; both were active in the Iowa and National Realtors Association.

Doris spent most of her life in Clinton, but moved to Decorah in October 2013 when she became dependent upon family and professionals for her health care and daily needs. She made friends fast during her years in the assisted living area of Wellington Place, and then with declining health she resided in the nursing home since mid-April 2018. The family is extremely grateful to her friends, and especially the staff of both Wellington and Winneshiek Hospice.

She is survived by her family: Dave (Gena) Christensen of Reno, Nev. and his children, Lars (Anne) and Leif; Kay Christensen of Waldport, Ore. and her children, Joshua, Mika, Ben and Luke; Keith Christensen (Dawn Deines) and their children, Chelsey (John) and Lynsey; and the children of her daughter, Cheryl, Sonja (Jeff), Eric and Leah (Brian); 15 great-grandchildren; her brother-in-law, Don (Joan) Christensen of Ft. Collins, Colo.; her sister-in-law, Mary Ann Christensen of Boise, Idaho; and many nieces and nephews as well as many friends from her years in both Clinton and Decorah.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her daughter, Cheryl; her brother (Jack); her brothers-in-law (Bob and Loren); her sisters-in-law (Esther and Shirley); and her special friend late in life, Bob.

In lieu of flowers, family requests that any memorials be directed to Winneshiek Hospice and Home Health Care, or, Wellington Place (both in Decorah); St. Paul Lutheran Church (in Clinton); or, to another charity of the donor’s choosing.