Funeral Services for Chase Ryan Christensen, Age 25 of Willard, Missouri (formerly of Mountain Grove & Norwood, Missouri) will be held on Saturday, June 6th, 2026 at The Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove, Missouri, beginning at 2:00 PM. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 5th, 2026 at The Funeral Home from 5:00- 7:00 PM. Burial will be in The Union Chapel #2 Cemetery Little Creek Road, MO 65711.
Chase Ryan Christensen was born on November 25, 2000, at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. During his first year of life, he lived in Mountain Grove and Norwood before his family relocated to Willard, Missouri, in support of his father’s military career with the Army National Guard.
Chase took great pride in being a military child and experienced many significant moments throughout his father’s deployments overseas. He treasured the time spent with his mother, sharing a love of music, songwriting, and family. Alongside his brother, sisters, cousins, and neighborhood friends, Chase enjoyed a childhood filled with laughter, adventure, and lasting memories. Family gatherings were centered around music, singing, movie nights, and sharing stories of their Italian and European heritage around the dinner table.
Music played an important role in Chase’s life from an early age. He learned to play the drums from his mother and developed a lifelong appreciation for music and creativity. He especially cherished summers spent with his cousins, visiting Silver Dollar City, swimming, and making memories together.
Chase graduated from Willard High School in June 2020, where he participated in choir, football, and four years of track and field. He was honored with the Gary Sell Top Male Sprinter Award and participated in the Fine Arts Music Competition at Evangel University. Following graduation, Chase attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, on a track scholarship, where he did General Studies for one year.
Throughout his life, Chase enjoyed running, personal fitness, weightlifting, workout routines, music, coffee, video games, scooter rides, swimming, fishing, and long drives through the countryside. He also devoted time to serving others through volunteer work with James River Assembly of God Church events and Army National Guard Family Day activities supporting the 1107th Unit.
While Chase achieved many accomplishments throughout his life, his greatest source of pride was being a father to his children. He loved them deeply and worked to provide for and protect them. He was equally devoted to Ivy, the mother of his children, and remained committed to the well-being of his family. Those who knew Chase will remember his big heart, his capacity to love deeply, and the importance he placed on his relationship with the Lord.
Chase’s life was marked by faith, family, loyalty, and love. His memory will live on through the many lives he touched and the family and friends who will forever cherish him.
Chase was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Russell Christensen.
Chase is survived by his beloved children, Lola Dawn Gerischer, Violet Dawn Christensen, and Preston Eli Christensen; the mother of his children, Ivy Dawn Cornell; his parents, Eric Russell Christensen and Tina Marie Christensen; his siblings, Candace Malone and husband, Al Malone, Madison Boykin and wife, Channing Boykin, and Bailey Billups and wife, Bethany Billups; his niece, Whitley Malone; his nephews, Waylen Malone and Gabriel Billups; his paternal grandmother, Donna Christensen; his maternal grandparents, Mike and Veronica Munday, and Danny and Erlinda Campbell; along with a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and community members whom he loved dearly.
