Anchorage Daily News April 29, 2008
Former resident Christian Johannes Birkeland, 74, died April 22, 2008, at Auburn Regional Medical Center in Auburn, Wash. A service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church, 18920 Fourth Ave. N.E. in Poulsbo, Wash., with a reception afterward at the Sons of Norway. Chris was born June 25, 1933, in Oslo, Norway, to Valborg Wessel Birkeland and Gunnar Michael Christian Brottkorb Birkeland. After sailing around Africa with the Norwegian merchant marine at age 15, Chris finished trade school and emigrated to the U.S. in 1957. During his studies at the University of Washington, he met his wife, Carol, at an apartment complex in Tacoma where they both lived. After a short courtship, they married in June 1964. Chris received his master's degree in engineering at UW in 1965. During a long and heralded career as a civil and structural engineer, he worked for Skillings Engineers, ABAM Engineers, KCM and for himself as an independent contractor. Among his design accomplishments are the Eklutna Clearwell Reservoir in Anchorage, the Magnolia Bluff retaining wall in Seattle, the Municipal Pier in Port Angeles, Wash., Hershey Foods Candy Plant in Stuarts Draft, Va., Riverton Heights Reservoir in Seattle and Space Mountain at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Chris moved to Bainbridge Island in 1968 and raised his family there until 1983. He was an avid sailor and was active in the Port Madison Yacht Club as a member, commodore and honorary lifetime member. He loved the sea and enjoyed fishing, sailing the San Juans and racing in the Saturday Morning Series. He and his family later lived in Anchorage from 1983 to 1987. For the last 20 years, Chris lived in Poulsbo, where he spent time with his friends at the Sons of Norway and was never seen without his yellow Lab, Bo. His final months were spent at Island Bay Group Family Home on Bainbridge Island. Chris was a loving and generous person. With his great stature and bass voice, he always "said it like it is" and enjoyed tweaking convention. Even despite his worst mischief, owing to his humor, honesty and authentic gratitude for life's gifts, he was cherished in highest regard by his friends and peers. He lived life rapturously, on his own terms and never made excuses. Chris is survived by his daughter, Edith (Thomas) Mills, and grandchildren, Erik, Carol and Patrick of Richmond Hill, Ga.; son, Gunnar (Kristi) Birkeland and granddaughters, Jane and Laura of Bellingham, Wash.; and daughter, Christina (Ivan) Opalka, and granddaughters, Zora and Lucia of Bainbridge Island. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, in 1991; sister, Anne Sophie Eggum in 2003; and twin brother, Gunnar Andreas Birkeland, who died in Norway only eight days before Chris' death. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Former resident Christian Johannes Birkeland, 74, died April 22, 2008, at Auburn Regional Medical Center in Auburn, Wash. A service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church, 18920 Fourth Ave. N.E. in Poulsbo, Wash., with a reception afterward at the Sons of Norway. Chris was born June 25, 1933, in Oslo, Norway, to Valborg Wessel Birkeland and Gunnar Michael Christian Brottkorb Birkeland. After sailing around Africa with the Norwegian merchant marine at age 15, Chris finished trade school and emigrated to the U.S. in 1957. During his studies at the University of Washington, he met his wife, Carol, at an apartment complex in Tacoma where they both lived. After a short courtship, they married in June 1964. Chris received his master's degree in engineering at UW in 1965. During a long and heralded career as a civil and structural engineer, he worked for Skillings Engineers, ABAM Engineers, KCM and for himself as an independent contractor. Among his design accomplishments are the Eklutna Clearwell Reservoir in Anchorage, the Magnolia Bluff retaining wall in Seattle, the Municipal Pier in Port Angeles, Wash., Hershey Foods Candy Plant in Stuarts Draft, Va., Riverton Heights Reservoir in Seattle and Space Mountain at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Chris moved to Bainbridge Island in 1968 and raised his family there until 1983. He was an avid sailor and was active in the Port Madison Yacht Club as a member, commodore and honorary lifetime member. He loved the sea and enjoyed fishing, sailing the San Juans and racing in the Saturday Morning Series. He and his family later lived in Anchorage from 1983 to 1987. For the last 20 years, Chris lived in Poulsbo, where he spent time with his friends at the Sons of Norway and was never seen without his yellow Lab, Bo. His final months were spent at Island Bay Group Family Home on Bainbridge Island. Chris was a loving and generous person. With his great stature and bass voice, he always "said it like it is" and enjoyed tweaking convention. Even despite his worst mischief, owing to his humor, honesty and authentic gratitude for life's gifts, he was cherished in highest regard by his friends and peers. He lived life rapturously, on his own terms and never made excuses. Chris is survived by his daughter, Edith (Thomas) Mills, and grandchildren, Erik, Carol and Patrick of Richmond Hill, Ga.; son, Gunnar (Kristi) Birkeland and granddaughters, Jane and Laura of Bellingham, Wash.; and daughter, Christina (Ivan) Opalka, and granddaughters, Zora and Lucia of Bainbridge Island. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, in 1991; sister, Anne Sophie Eggum in 2003; and twin brother, Gunnar Andreas Birkeland, who died in Norway only eight days before Chris' death. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Anchorage Daily News April 29, 2008
Former resident Christian Johannes Birkeland, 74, died April 22, 2008, at Auburn Regional Medical Center in Auburn, Wash. A service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church, 18920 Fourth Ave. N.E. in Poulsbo, Wash., with a reception afterward at the Sons of Norway. Chris was born June 25, 1933, in Oslo, Norway, to Valborg Wessel Birkeland and Gunnar Michael Christian Brottkorb Birkeland. After sailing around Africa with the Norwegian merchant marine at age 15, Chris finished trade school and emigrated to the U.S. in 1957. During his studies at the University of Washington, he met his wife, Carol, at an apartment complex in Tacoma where they both lived. After a short courtship, they married in June 1964. Chris received his master's degree in engineering at UW in 1965. During a long and heralded career as a civil and structural engineer, he worked for Skillings Engineers, ABAM Engineers, KCM and for himself as an independent contractor. Among his design accomplishments are the Eklutna Clearwell Reservoir in Anchorage, the Magnolia Bluff retaining wall in Seattle, the Municipal Pier in Port Angeles, Wash., Hershey Foods Candy Plant in Stuarts Draft, Va., Riverton Heights Reservoir in Seattle and Space Mountain at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Chris moved to Bainbridge Island in 1968 and raised his family there until 1983. He was an avid sailor and was active in the Port Madison Yacht Club as a member, commodore and honorary lifetime member. He loved the sea and enjoyed fishing, sailing the San Juans and racing in the Saturday Morning Series. He and his family later lived in Anchorage from 1983 to 1987. For the last 20 years, Chris lived in Poulsbo, where he spent time with his friends at the Sons of Norway and was never seen without his yellow Lab, Bo. His final months were spent at Island Bay Group Family Home on Bainbridge Island. Chris was a loving and generous person. With his great stature and bass voice, he always "said it like it is" and enjoyed tweaking convention. Even despite his worst mischief, owing to his humor, honesty and authentic gratitude for life's gifts, he was cherished in highest regard by his friends and peers. He lived life rapturously, on his own terms and never made excuses. Chris is survived by his daughter, Edith (Thomas) Mills, and grandchildren, Erik, Carol and Patrick of Richmond Hill, Ga.; son, Gunnar (Kristi) Birkeland and granddaughters, Jane and Laura of Bellingham, Wash.; and daughter, Christina (Ivan) Opalka, and granddaughters, Zora and Lucia of Bainbridge Island. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, in 1991; sister, Anne Sophie Eggum in 2003; and twin brother, Gunnar Andreas Birkeland, who died in Norway only eight days before Chris' death. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
Former resident Christian Johannes Birkeland, 74, died April 22, 2008, at Auburn Regional Medical Center in Auburn, Wash. A service will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church, 18920 Fourth Ave. N.E. in Poulsbo, Wash., with a reception afterward at the Sons of Norway. Chris was born June 25, 1933, in Oslo, Norway, to Valborg Wessel Birkeland and Gunnar Michael Christian Brottkorb Birkeland. After sailing around Africa with the Norwegian merchant marine at age 15, Chris finished trade school and emigrated to the U.S. in 1957. During his studies at the University of Washington, he met his wife, Carol, at an apartment complex in Tacoma where they both lived. After a short courtship, they married in June 1964. Chris received his master's degree in engineering at UW in 1965. During a long and heralded career as a civil and structural engineer, he worked for Skillings Engineers, ABAM Engineers, KCM and for himself as an independent contractor. Among his design accomplishments are the Eklutna Clearwell Reservoir in Anchorage, the Magnolia Bluff retaining wall in Seattle, the Municipal Pier in Port Angeles, Wash., Hershey Foods Candy Plant in Stuarts Draft, Va., Riverton Heights Reservoir in Seattle and Space Mountain at Disney World in Orlando, Fla. Chris moved to Bainbridge Island in 1968 and raised his family there until 1983. He was an avid sailor and was active in the Port Madison Yacht Club as a member, commodore and honorary lifetime member. He loved the sea and enjoyed fishing, sailing the San Juans and racing in the Saturday Morning Series. He and his family later lived in Anchorage from 1983 to 1987. For the last 20 years, Chris lived in Poulsbo, where he spent time with his friends at the Sons of Norway and was never seen without his yellow Lab, Bo. His final months were spent at Island Bay Group Family Home on Bainbridge Island. Chris was a loving and generous person. With his great stature and bass voice, he always "said it like it is" and enjoyed tweaking convention. Even despite his worst mischief, owing to his humor, honesty and authentic gratitude for life's gifts, he was cherished in highest regard by his friends and peers. He lived life rapturously, on his own terms and never made excuses. Chris is survived by his daughter, Edith (Thomas) Mills, and grandchildren, Erik, Carol and Patrick of Richmond Hill, Ga.; son, Gunnar (Kristi) Birkeland and granddaughters, Jane and Laura of Bellingham, Wash.; and daughter, Christina (Ivan) Opalka, and granddaughters, Zora and Lucia of Bainbridge Island. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, in 1991; sister, Anne Sophie Eggum in 2003; and twin brother, Gunnar Andreas Birkeland, who died in Norway only eight days before Chris' death. Visit the online memorial at legacy.com
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