Kenneth Christiansen 12/28/2025

28 January 1941 – 28 December 2025

Kenneth R. Christiansen, 84, of Brentwood, NH, passed away on 28 December 2025 in Maplewood, MN. He was the son of the late William and Lena A. Miani Christiansen.  He was the 4th of 10 children. Ken grew up in Utica, NY where his love of homemade spaghetti and meatballs (his mom’s cooking), baseball, and the New York Yankees was born.

From a young age, Ken embodied patriotism and service to others.  At 17 years old, he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a Military Police Officer. He would spend 20 years honorably serving his country. He was stationed across the East Coast with assignments at the Pentagon, Hanscom Air Force Base, Air Force Recruiting Command, and Pease Air Force Base. He also served deployments to Morocco and Wake Island. He retired at the rank of Master Sergeant.  Following his military retirement, he went on to build a career in the insurance industry with NCCI for 24 years.

During his time at Pease AFB, Ken was introduced to his future wife Ellen. Ken always proudly shared with his family and friends that he asked for Ellen’s hand in marriage on their first date and, on their second date, she accepted! Ken and Ellen shared 63 wonderful years of marriage. They welcomed two children together, Frank and Jomarie, and spoiled their four grandchildren, Kenneth, Elisabeth, Emily, and Sydney who fondly refer to him as “Da”. Ken was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who had immense pride in his family which he loved so deeply.

In 1998, he and Ellen moved to Brentwood, NH into their “House on the Hill”. Initially, Ken and Ellen spent much of their time volunteering at the Mary E. Bartlett Library. Ken would go on to serve on the town’s Select Board and various committees from 2007-2022. Ken knew no stranger and made friends wherever he went. When his grandkids were in town, he would proudly bring them to visit all his friends and favorite spots (decked out in Yankees attire of course).  He would always take them to visit Freemont Pizzeria and never missed an opportunity to give the owner a hard time whenever the Red Sox lost.

Ken was always up for a game of cards, the senior coffee at McDonalds (2 cream, 2 Splenda), spaghetti and meatballs on repeat, a nap on the recliner while watching ESPN highlights, tipping waitstaff with a crisp $100 bill, and living a wonderful life with his wife by his side.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen; daughter and son-in-law, Jomarie and Ty; daughter-in-law, Pam Christiansen; grandchildren, Kenneth, Elisabeth, Emily, and Sydney; his siblings and their spouses, Elizabeth Christiansen, Norma Christiansen, Ellen Christiansen, Carol Christiansen, Richard and Mary Christiansen, Joan Marie Sokolowski, Mary Dunham, and Peter and Marge Christiansen. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, William, James, Douglas, Joseph and John Christiansen; and son, Frank W. Christiansen.

A private ceremony to remember Ken will be held in Connecticut during the summer of 2026. To honor Ken’s service, generosity, and kindness, please consider a donation in memory of Kenneth Christiansen at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Cremation provided by Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.