Duane D Christensen

Duane D. Christensen, a native of Logan, died peacefully at home on May 6, 2018 in Wellington, FL surrounded by his family at the age of 89 from natural causes.
Mr. Christensen graduated from Logan High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Utah State University in 1952. While in school, he worked as a sports editor at the Logan Herald-Journal and as a sports announcer at KVNU. He entered the U.S. Army through the ROTC program and following basic training, served as Post Public Information Officer in Fort Lee, VA.
Following military duty, Mr. Christensen joined Phillips Petroleum Company in a marketing capacity in Bartlesville, OK. In 1960, Mr. Christensen moved to St. Louis, MO to join what then was a small privately-held company, Maritz, Inc., that provided advertising, sales promotion, research and training services to major U.S. corporations. During his 34-year career with Maritz, he served in several top management positions and played a key role in the company’s growth into a worldwide organization with sales revenues exceeding $1.7 billion and over 6000 employees.
In St. Louis, Mr. Christensen was active in many business and civic organizations. He served in leadership positions with the United Way, Arts and Education Council, Higher Education Council, Metropolitan Association for Philanthropy, Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis, and others. He served six years as president of the St. Louis Private Industry Council and in 1990, was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Missouri 2000 Commission. In 1994, Mr. Christensen moved to West Palm Beach, FL and served on the board of the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club.
Mr. Christensen’s greatest accomplishment was his role as a father. He valued family more than anything else in life. He inspired his children to be the best they could be and was always available to offer kind words of encouragement and love. He is survived by his wife, Gayla, of West Palm Beach; a daughter and son-in-law, Lauren and Tom, of Houston, TX; a son and daughter-in-law, Ryan and Lauren of Sarasota, FL; and a son, Alexander of West Palm Beach, FL. His 4 granddaughters, Brooke, Beatty, Briar and Lisle will miss him dearly. Mr. Christensen’s kind, genuine spirit and sense of humor was loved by many and will be forever remembered by his friends and family.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 E. Center St., Logan, UT. Interment to follow in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.net .