Eric Mart Christensen passed peacefully in his sleep January 1, 2006. He was 57. Eric was born March 18, 1948, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Lynn Lovell Christensen and Blanche Bower. He was the oldest of eight children, growing up in Roberts, Idaho. He joined the U.S. Army and served from 1968 to 1970, with oversees duty in Korea. He married Mary Gunderson in 1970 and moved to Anaheim, California, where they had two sons. They later divorced, and in 1986 he married Paula Parker and moved to West Valley City, Utah, where he and Paula had a wonderful, loving marriage. Eric worked as a commercial, steel stud, drywall hanger/framer until 2001 when he suffered from severe pancreatitis. After many surgeries and other complications, his health would no longer permit him to do the work he had done all of his adult life. Even though he went through so much difficulty with his health, he never complained and was always upbeat, full of life and joy. Eric was a real sports enthusiast and loved sports of all kinds, especially professional football, and enjoyed cheering on the University of Utah teams and the Jazz. He dearly loved all of his family and his little dogs, particularly his little Bogie. Preceded in passing by his father and brother Jordan. Survived by his wife, Paula; mother; sons, Brett (Jenifer) Christensen; Brandon (Andrea) Christensen; grandchildren, Andrew and Allison, as well as his siblings, Alan (Laurie) Christensen, Ingrid (Bruce) Ball, Eulalie (Bruce) Hall, Bryant Christensen, Sonja (Mike) Schaat; and Elinor (Doug) Wine. Eric was a kind and loving man who will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Funeral Services will be held Friday, January 6, 2006 at 12:00 pm (noon) in the Colony Ward Meeting House, 4251 So. 4800 West, West Valley City, Utah. Friends and family may call at the meeting house Thursday evening, from 6-8 pm, and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Interment will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E, 10600 So., Sandy, Utah.

Published 4 January 2006 in The Salt Lake Tribune (UT)