Richard "Dick" Joseph Christianson

Richard "Dick" J. Christianson, 80, of Waterville, IA, died Friday, June 12, 2026, at his home in Waterville. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Martin – Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling the arrangements.

Richard "Dick" Joseph Christianson was born September 15, 1945, in Waterville, IA, the son of Edwin and Loretta (Weipert) Christianson. He attended Waterville School and graduated from Waukon High School. Dick joined the U.S. Navy and attended various engineering Schools. He spent the first year and a half aboard the same ship with his brother Carl, operating in the far East. Dick served a total of seven years in the Navy including combat duty on Swift Boats in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam. He married Jean Thornton and they had two daughters, Tina and Tracy. They later divorced.

Dick loved working with gas engines and welding, which included building a stock car for his niece Darcy. He wrote words of wisdom on the dash for her, "Turn left....Floor it!" She has several trophies to prove the advice was well taken. Dick worked in the logging industry for many years. He was an expert outdoorsman, a crack shot with firearms, an expert ammo reloader, and taught many youths’ firearms safety. Dick was also at home along a trout stream or in his boat getting the "catch of the day." He loved to take a youth with him to teach the skill of catching the big one. Dick only allowed one child/youth at a time for safety reasons and limited questions. The outing always included a delicious lunch that only Dick could put together. His favorite sandwich was egg salad but only if it was made according to the recipe of Pat Pettingill.

Survivors include his two daughters; his siblings: Carl (Betty) Christianson of Waukon, Jean Ann Fritz of St. Cloud, FL, Avis Troendle of Marion, IA, and Alice Zoll of Macclenny FL; a sister-in-law Wanda Christianson of Waterville; grandchildren: Collin Cota, Samantha Mau, Paige Cota, Andrew Lewis, Ryan, Madison, Cade, Genieve, and Faithlynn; two great-grandchildren: Lillian and Wrangler Cota. He is preceded in death by his parents; grandchildren: Shelby and Shayla; a brother James Christianson; three brothers-in-law: John W. Troendle, John Fritz and Ed Zoll.