Kids & Family

Lisa Christensen's Colleagues Share Memories from Her Life

Christensen, who died Tuesday, loved her children, her job and her community. A visitation is set for 3 p.m. Friday at the Northrop-Sassaman Funeral Home in Northville.

Lisa Christensen's significance to the Northville community is clear when her friends and colleges fight to hold back tears when speaking about her.

"We lost a friend first and a coworker second," said Jason D. Spiller, director of Northville Parks and Recreation.

Christensen, 55, died Tuesday after police say her estranged husband, Gunar Christensen, 59, shot her and then himself at their home in Novi.

Spiller only worked with Christensen for a year, but her work as youth basketball coordinator for Parks and Recreation and her passion for athletics left a lasting impression on him. He said the program, which grew under her guidance, has about 800 kids each year.

"She's the reason why that program is successful today," he said.

Christensen's life was all about athletics, whether it was supporting her children's endeavors or getting kids from the community involved. She worked with 3- to 18-year-olds and made sure everyone had fun, he said. 

"She was the shining light of our department," he said. 

Traci Sincock, associate director of the Northville Chamber of Commerce, was one of the people who hired Christensen when she was director of Parks and Recreation. She said it was her love for sports, her professionalism and her superb organization that got her the job.

"She was energetic and believed all kids should have an outlet for play," she said.

Sincock said everyone in Northville is family and everyone was struck by the news of her death. 

"She loved Northville. She loved working for Parks and Recreation," she said.

Charlie Gabbeart, athletic supervisor at Parks and Recreation and Christensen's close friend and co-worker, said she was unselfish and generous with her time.

"She actually lived that," he said. "Her goal was to make the world a better place."

Gabbeart, who worked with Christensen since 2008, remembers when she talked him into dressing up as a giant turkey. It was for the annual "Turkey Shoot" where kids donate to a food collection drive to participate in a free-throw contest. 

"I had the turkey costume on. I asked her, 'What do you want me to do?' She says, 'Whatever is fun,'" he said. 

So, dressed as a giant turkey, he started a pick-up game of basketball with the kids who were waiting for their turn. She laughed and had a great time with that, he said.

Gabbeart also played softball with Christensen. He said he's asking that there be a moment of silence in her honor at the upcoming games. Her coed team "Whoz On 1st?" will be wearing special team shirts Sunday to commemorate her love for sports. They will also be accepting donations in her name to support causes that work with domestic violence victims.

Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Northrop-Sassaman Funeral Home, 19091 Northville Road, in Northville. Christensen’s funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church of Northville, 200 East Main St.

Do you have a memory of Lisa Christensen? Share it with us in the comments below.


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