Leroy Charles Christensen, age 90, passed away on Friday, May 8, 2026 surrounded by his loving family in Wisconsin Rapids, WI formally of Tomah. He was born March 24, 1936, to Herbert and Bergitta (Petersen) Christensen in Camp Douglas, WI.
Leroy attended the Lone Rock country school from 1st through 8th grade. Leroy graduated from New Lisbon High School with the Class of 1954. After graduation Leroy went to Kenosha and worked at the Chrysler Corporation. Leroy was a carpenter by trade with William Nelson starting in 1956. In 1958, Leroy volunteered to enlist in the US Army for two years (Sept 1958-1960) where he helped protect the Berlin Wall. Upon his return, he worked for William Nelson until 1966 when he accepted a job at Job Corp at Camp McCoy for 2 years. In 1968, Leroy began working for the Department of Military Affairs at Volk Field, Camp Douglas where he retired 26 years later in Feb 1995 as a Building and Grounds Superintendent.
In addition to working full-time, Leroy farmed his whole life. Once married, he and Pat lived on Pat’s family farm in Bear Creek south east of Tomah. Together they raised beef cattle and did crops. Leroy loved helping his neighbors whenever he could.
Leroy married Patricia A. Roeder on September 2,1961 in Tomah, WI and a daughter, Cara was born in 1963. A grandson, Cardell was born in 1992 and Leroy welcomed a great-grandaughter Laylah in 2022.
Leroy volunteered at several community projects. Some of his favorite ones were Camp Sunshine (helping children with cancer enjoy a fun-filled week at a wonderful resort), Dairyland Grand National Tractor Pull, Warren’s Cranberry Festival, Monroe County Dairy Breakfast and the Tomah Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the TeePee each year.
Leroy loved watching rodeos, NASCAR, tractor pulls and traveling. During his retirement, from 1996 to 2019, Leroy enjoyed traveling every winter weekend with his grandson, Cardell, to all his snowmobile races throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and even Canada. Cardell began racing cars in 2007, and Leroy never missed a night of racing until Cardell retired from cars in 2017. Nothing brought Leroy greater pleasure than watching Cardell compete in racing and being right beside him in the pits. Leroy was an asset to Cardell’s pit crew and his biggest fan in the pit area. Everyone in the racing world referred to him as “Grandad”.
Leroy is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Ann Christensen; daughter, Cara (Joe) Potter; grandson, Cardell Potter; great-granddaughter, Laylah Potter; brother, Harold Christensen; sisters, Marion Christensen and Jeanette Anderson; along with a nephew Bruce (Jeanne) Christensen.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the VA Community Care program in Leroy’s memory or donations are encouraged directly to the family to support the VA and help our veterans.
Funeral services for Leroy will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation on Monday from 12:00 p.m. (Noon) until the time of the service at the funeral home. Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Torkelson Funeral Home
