Leeann Christian

LeeAnn C. Christian, age 63, of Smiths Mill, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at her home surrounded by family.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, November 18, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Janesville, with Rev. Dr. Larry Griffin and Pastor Paul Muther, officiating. Interment will be held at Smiths Mill Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at the Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory of Janesville on Sunday from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and for one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Mayo Health Systems Hospice Program of Mankato, Children's Home Society of Minnesota, Poverello Foundation at St. Mary's Hospital, or to the donor's choice.

LeeAnn Christine, the daughter of Vernon and Carlean (Plumhoff) Tietje, was born on December 9, 1949 in Fairmont, Minnesota and was baptized and confirmed at the St. Paul Lutheran Church. She attended schooling in Fairmont and graduated from the Fairmont High School with the class of 1966. Following high school, LeeAnn first attended college in Iowa for nursing prior to receiving a degree in Secretarial Training from Mankato State University. LeeAnn then began her thirty-seven year career at MSU as secretary of the Dental Educational Program. On May 6, 1972, she was united in marriage to Steven John Christian at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fairmont. He later preceded her in death on May 1, 1997.

LeeAnn had a life-long passion of horses, first beginning at the age of nine. She was a member of many saddle clubs and also enjoyed training Arabians along with boarding horses. LeeAnn also enjoyed reading, antiquing and mostly, spending time with her family.

She is survived by her daughter, Miriam (Andrew) Storjohann of Janesville; her four grandchildren, Cassidy Eden, Tyler John, Scott James and Nicholas Andrew; her parents, Vernon and Carlean Tietje of Fairmont; her sister, Beverly Tietje of Rochester; and by many aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her infant siblings, Claudia and Douglas and by her husband, Steven.