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Randell Duane Christians

1951 - 1971

A 19 year old rural Garner Youth was found dead in the swimming pool of a Des Moines apartment house early Friday.

Randell Duane Christians, son of Mr. and Mrs. Duane Christians of near Garner was the second drowning victim in less than 24 hours in the Des Moines area. Police said Friday the body of the Christians youth was discovered in the pool at Hills of Normandy Apartments, 717 Seventeenth St., about 5:30 a.m. by a friend, Ton O'Connor.

O'Connor said Christians who had been living at 1433 High St. while attending a course at the Des Moines Skill Center was playing cards at O'Connor's apartment until about 3:20 a.m. O'Connor said he fell asleep and when he awoke about 5:30 a.m., he saw that Christians was gone, but his clothes were in the apartment. He said he went across the street to the apartment house pool and saw Christians lying at the bottom of the 5 1/2 foot deep pool. He said he jumped in and pulled Christians out but was unable to revive him.

Christians had said several times during the evening that he wanted to go swimming, O'Connor told police. He said they had planned to go to Gray's Lake Friday morning.

Des Moines Skill Center officials said Christians, a graduate of the high school at Klenmme, completed the job training course at the center June 11.

source: Des Moines Tribune, 25 Jun 1971, page1, col 5

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Services held for Randy Christians

Funeral services were held for Randell D. Christians, 19, Monday at 2:00 p.m. at Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme. Rev. Marvin Lehman officiated. Burial was in the KIemme cemetery. Johnston Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Death was due to accidental drowning in Des Moines Friday.

Randell Duane Christians was born Nov. 15, 1951. in Mason City, the son of Duane and Iona Christians. He attended the Klemme Community schools and was a 1970 graduate of Klemme Community High school. He was a confirmed member of the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ.

Randell had been attending the Des Moines Area Community college.

Survivors include his parents, a maternal grandfather, Andrew Vernet of Britt; three brothers, Gregory. Mark and Charles, and three sisters, Patty and Beth, all at home.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents and his maternal grandmother.

source: Belmond Independent 29 Jun 1971

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