Roger Lee Christensen, age 86, of Sparta, Michigan, died on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, after living with Parkinson's Disease for 12 years. Roger was born on October 27, 1939, in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan to Duke and Aileen (McCauley) Christensen.

Soft-spoken, kind, and hardworking, Roger was a steady presence whose greatest joys were his family, gardening, and travel.

Roger took tremendous pride in his vegetable garden, where weeds were rarely given a chance; he kept meticulous notes from year to year to ensure each season was better than the last. That same attention to detail carried into many aspects of his life, from record keeping to carefully planned vacations.

For his 50th birthday, Roger celebrated with a trip to the Grand Canyon alongside his wife, Liz. What began as a special birthday adventure became a lifelong passion, and together they hiked to the canyon floor at least 15 times over the years.

Roger was the planner behind every trip, thinking through every detail so those traveling with him only had to pack a bag and show up on time. He shared his love of both domestic and international travel with Liz, their children, and granddaughters, creating countless family memories along the way.

Roger is survived by his wife of 64 years, Elizabeth Christensen; his daughter, Molly (David) Mensch; and his granddaughters, Claire and Sophie Mensch.

He was preceded in death by his son, Tim; his parents, Duke and Aileen; his brother, Albert Christensen; and sister, Emily Wise.

No services have been scheduled at this time.