John Christiansen

John Raymond Christiansen of Norman, Oklahoma, passed away on Friday, January 3rd, 2020, at the age of 81.

He was born on March 23rd, 1938, in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. His family included his parents Carl and Laura Christiansen, older sister Mary Ann, and older brother Calvin.
He grew up working harvest and loading scrap iron with his father while his mother was a homemaker and waitress. He attended high school in Ulysses, Kansas, where he graduated in 1956.

After high school, John attended the University of Oklahoma and earned two bachelor’s degrees; one in chemistry (1960) and one in psychology (1962). He married Barbara Kay Branson in 1960. He then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine where he earned his M.D. in 1967. He interned at St. Joseph’s hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1968.

During 1968-1970, John was drafted into the Vietnam War where he served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. During his time in Vietnam, he was awarded two Bronze Stars, one with valor. He also earned the Army Distinguished Service Commendation Medal. After he served in Vietnam he returned to Oklahoma and completed his commitment to the army at the Ft. Sill military hospital in Lawton, OK, after which he was honorably discharged. He then returned for his residency and fellowship at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center. John also taught medical students and sat on several boards for the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

He opened his private medical practice, John Christiansen M.D. Internal Medicine and Pulmonology, in Norman, OK, in 1974. In 1977, he received the Physician’s Merit Award (Hospital Guardian Angel) by vote of the hospital staff. He served his patients for 45 years up until the time of his death. He loved what he did and wanted to do it for as long as he could.

He was an avid reader, enjoyed big game hunting, fly fishing, cattle ranching, farming, spending time with family, and traveling.
John is preceded in death by his brother, Calvin Christiansen; father, Carl; and mother, Laura.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kay Christiansen; son, Nelson; granddaughters Haley and Laurel; two great-grandsons, Gage and Grant; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Ann and Jim Richardson; and his sister-in-law Estella Christiansen.