Patsy Ann (Shipley) Christiansen

Patsy Ann Christiansen was born in Belvidere, IL on October 16, 1946. She passed away on December 18, 2025; surrounded by her family. She grew up in Genoa, IL and graduated from Genoa-Kingston High School. Patsy graduated from Swedish American School of Nursing in 1968, and obtained her diploma. Years later she went back to school to earn her BSN from Alverno College. Patsy dedicated her life to Swedish American Hospital. She worked as a ICU/CCU nurse, but majority of her career was as a nursing supervisor. She retired in 2012 after 44 years of loyal service. Patsy enjoyed her retirement spending time with her friends and family. She deeply loved her daughter; Beth Christiansen Grady, and three granddaughters; Ashlee, Madeline, and Payton Grady. 

She married Edwin Christiansen on June 23, 1971. They celebrated 52 wonderful years of marriage before Ed passed in August of 2023. Patsy’s joys in life were cooking, crafting, reading, watching the Hallmark channel, and spending time with her granddaughters. She was a kind, smart, and strong woman, full of life and love. 

Patsy was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She survived by her daughter; Beth Christiansen Grady (Peter), granddaughters; Ashlee, Madeline, and Payton, siblings; Ken Shipley (Cathy) and Linda Morey, sister-in-law; Carol Evans, nieces and nephews; Dawn Evans, Tim Evans (Deb), Rachel Shipley, Cristy Mckenzie (Jerold), Ryan Morey (Becka), Julie Ratliff (Joe), Mike Morey (Erin), Jolene O’Donnell (Ryan), and John Shipley (Alyson), and special friends; Lori Carlson (Brian), Janet McKinney, TR McKinney (Brittney), and Breanna Brost (Kaleb). Preceded in death by parents; Catherine and Claude Shipley, husband; Edwin Christiansen, nephew; Jason Shipley, brother-in-laws; John Evans and George Morey, and special friends; Lindsay and Rob McKinney.  

We will be having a celebration of life at a future time to honor the life of Patsy and reminisce on the impact she had on each of our lives.