Gaynel E. Christensen

Gaynel E. Christensen of Tomahawk, passed away July 9th, 2024, while in the care of her daughters.

Gaynel worked at Briggs and Straton, Big Boys, Hartland Plastic, Arn and Dales, Johnson Tool as well as working in health care.

As a child, she dragged saplings out of the swamp in Lugerville, Wi. for a penny a tree. She later trapped and sold furs while in grade school.

She attended Phillips High School, where she graduated in 1951. Gay moved to Milwaukee Wi, where she met her husband, William Christensen. Years later they moved to Tomahawk.

Gaynel was a member of Grace Lutheran Church of Tomahawk where she was on the Guild Hall.

Her hobbies were walking, cross country skiing, ice skating, berry picking, crocheting and a good hand of cards.

She taught her children to love the outdoors. Gaynel was a berry picker and instilled a love of foraging in her daughters. She would climb over downed trees and leap over irrigation ditches to find blueberries that hung like grapes.

People knew her as a soft spoken and a kind woman. Her family knew her as scrappy and a sandbagger of cards.

Gaynel survived by her three Daughters, Kelly Peterson (John) of Madison, Sherry Fraser (Todd, deceased), Watertown, Judy Christensen, Plymouth. Grandchildren, Dustin Reiter (Kelly), Zackary and Savannah Fraser. Great Grandchildren, Pheonix Chapman and Dylan Wendt and Great, Great Grandchild Evangeline Monroy. Her two sisters, Patricia Jensen and June Pohl (Duane).

She was preceded death by her Husband, William Christensen, Grandson Dustin Reiter (Kelly), Her parents, Helen and Alvin Geisness, brother, Duane Geisness (Joan), Sisters, Gwendolyn Isham (Don, deceased), Janice Kuhar (Ron), brother Alden Geisness and son in law, Todd Fraser.

The family would like to thank Compassus Hospice of Sheboygan and Rainbow Hospice Care for all their help and support.

A private family gathering will be held at a later date.