Rev. Roger Christiansen

The Rev. Roger Christiansen ’61of Cape Girardeau met his Savior on Nov. 20, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center, surrounded by his wife and children.

He was born Sept. 7, 1933, in Pine Township in Montcalm County, Michigan, to Clarence and Myrtle Elizabeth Slocum Christiansen. He married the love of his life, Twyla Loretha McCollough, on April 14, 1962, in Anderson, Indiana. They were married over 58 years.

Roger served his country in the U.S. Army, where he earned a National Defense Service Medal and Army of Occupation Medal. He later graduated from Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana, with bachelor’s degrees in Bible and psychology. Roger went on to serve the Lord in ministry with the Church of God (Anderson) for over 50 years, pastoring churches in North Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Missouri.

Roger was a man of sincere faith who lived it out in his selfless service and care of others. Even after retirement, he remained active in church life through serving on boards and preaching monthly at Cape Community Church. Until his recent illness, he faithfully volunteered each week at the Cape Girardeau Senior Center delivering meals to the elderly.

He is survived by his wife, Twyla Loretha Christiansen of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Valerie Gail (Mark) Ramsey of Cape Girardeau and Angela Ruth (Sean) McDeavitt of Bryan, Texas; one son, Paul Keith (Niki) Christiansen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Richard (Jackie) Christiansen of Ionia, Michigan, and Clarence (Mary Lou) Christiansen of Roscoe, Illinois; one brother-in-law, Cecil Mathewson of Belding, Michigan; and many other relatives and friends.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents and beloved sister, Laverna Mathewson.