Virgil O. "Termite" Christianson

Virgil O. “Termite” Christianson, age 80, of Carroll, Iowa passed away on Thursday, July 17, 2014 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll surrounded by his family. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll with Fr. Timothy Johnson as Celebrant. Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 P.M. on Monday where there will be a Rosary at 4:00 P.M. and a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 P.M. by Holy Spirit Parish. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church at 8:30 A.M. on Tuesday where visitation will resume until the time of service. Music for the Mass will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir. Gift bearers will be: Sarah Meister, Rachael Maloney, and Stephanie Christianson. Casket bearers will be grandsons: Josh Schroeder, Ryan Schroeder, Matt Meister, Nate Meister, Justin Christianson, and Nick Christianson. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion. Born on July 14, 1934 in Carroll, Iowa, he was the son of Virgil H. and Maude (Butler) Christianson. Virgil grew up in Carroll and attended Carroll Public Schools. He worked for Montgomery Ward for a few years following school and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1953 and served until 1956 during the Korean War. He was married to Catherine Lambertz on June 16, 1956 at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll by Father Kirshbaum. Termite worked for Ocoma Foods and Heider Manufacturing before becoming the Sexton of the Carroll City Cemetery for 30 years. He was a member of Holy Spirit Parish. He had been a member of the Carroll American Legion, the Moose Lodge of which he served as governor, and the Carroll Knights of Columbus, and he tended bar for many years at the K of C Hall. Termite enjoyed playing cards, telling jokes, going to coffee, listening to polka music, going to stock car races, and spending time with his family. He was an avid bowler and served as secretary of the Carroll City League for 32 years. Termite always had a pocket full of candy and loved to give it out. Surviving are his wife Cathy of 58 years; two daughters: Ginny Maloney of Frederick, Colorado, and Deb Meister of Auburn, Iowa; two sons: David Christianson of Carroll, and Jeff Christianson of Carroll; thirteen grandchildren, ten great grandchildren; five sisters-in-law: Evelyn Bowser and her husband Dan of Gardner, Kansas, Elva Bernholtz of Carroll, Mary Lechtenberg of Carroll, Barb Lambertz of Des Moines, and Alice Lambertz of Des Moines; a brother-in-law Leo Lambertz of Carroll; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter Holly Marie Meister, a daughter-in-law Kim Christianson, a son-in-law James Maloney, three sisters: Belma in infancy, Norma Jean Lindgren and her husband Sven, and DeVota Russell and her husband Floyd, and a brother Harold Christianson and his wife Larraine.