Les Christensen

NAPLES, Fla. -- M.L. "Les" Christensen, 83, died peacefully surrounded by family and friends Saturday Feb. 12, 2011, in Naples.

He was born March 9, 1927, in Gloucester City, N.J.

Les honorably served his country in the Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. Following the war, he graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia, receiving a B.A. degree in 1952.

Les was an accomplished businessman. His expertise, particularly in the plastics industry, was highly regarded among his peers. A high point of his career was the 17 years he spent as president of Atlas Plastics Corp. (now Spartech Plastics) in Cape Girardeau. He was a member of the board of directors of the Society of Plastics Industry (SPI), and a member of Plastics Pioneers. Les also served on the boards of directors of Saint Francis Medical Center and First National Bank in Cape Girardeau.

After his retirement from business, Les' love of golf and love of work led him to the pro shop at The Glades Country Club in Naples, where he worked until just a few months before his passing.

Les shared his wit, wisdom and love of life with everyone he met. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and neighbors. May God bless him and give him peace.

Les is survived by his wife, Maureen; his children; Kathleen (Mike) Shivelbine and John (Brenda) Christensen of Cape Girardeau, Patricia (Bill) Hearn of Fort Myers, Fla.; five grandchildren, Matthew (Jenna) Shivelbine, Elizabeth (David) Winkler, Andrew Christensen, Christen Keller, and Calen Wills; three great-grandchildren, Noah Winkler, Eleanor Winkler, and Olin Shivelbine.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly; father, Leslie; mother, Miriam; and sister, Dorothea.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Ann Catholic Church in Naples.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Les Christensen to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105 (phone: 239-261-4404).

"The deep pain that is felt at the death of every friendly soul arises from the feeling that there is in every individual something which is inexpressible, peculiar to him or her alone and is therefore absolutely and irretrievably lost." --- Arthur Schopenhauer

A memorial service will be held in Cape Girardeau at a later date.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.