BRIAN NEAL CHRISTNER

BRIAN NEAL CHRISTNER
Brian Neal Christner, son of Robert L. & Barbara R. (Halsted) Christner, was born January 1, 1970 in Marshalltown, Iowa. Brian was welcomed home by big sisters, Brenda & Beth, and would later help welcome little sister, Belinda, into the family’s home. The family moved to Mount Ayr in February of 1970.
Brian grew up with a love for sports and always maintained a competitive spirit. He was active and excelled in sports while in school. Brian graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1988. He then went to Indian Hills Community College in Centerville, IA. on a baseball scholarship, where he was the pitcher. Brian furthered his education at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA. He graduated with a Bachelors in Sports Management in 1994. Brian completed his college internship at the University of Nebraska which was only natural being he was an avid Nebraska fan. He has been the plant manager at G & K/Cintas in Des Moines for the past 10 years.
Brian first loved his family and was very loyal and devoted to them. The Christner family loved their Nebraska Cornhuskers and he loved making sure every event they attended was fun-filled. He would help his family in any way possible and would truly “carry their burdens”.
He loved his wife and daughters and he had a special close relationship with them. Brian married Angela Rene Armstrong on May 22, 2008 in Hawaii. They were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Kama Rene Christner on October 27, 2010. He was also blessed to be the father of Aurora Dell Christner on April 17, 1999 and Olivia Briar Rose Christner on August 21, 2001. Brian took pride in attending sporting events and other activities that Aurora, Briar and Kama were involved in.
Brian loved his nieces and nephews unconditionally, by caring for all of them with passion and devoted love. Brian loved his country and he was very patriotic. He accompanied his brother-in-law, Noah Carpenter, on an Honor Flight to Washington DC in October 2016 and he was forever moved by the veteran’s commitment to freedom. He would always “pay it forward” when eating out. He took great pleasure in looking around the restaurant to see a veteran or someone that the Lord was putting on his heart to pay for their meals…and leave without recognition. Brian gave his life to Christ and was baptized on November 19, 1977. He grew up in the First Baptist Church in Mount Ayr. Brian will be forever remembered for his sense of humor and his love of family, friends, and country.
Brian passed away July 29, 2017. He was preceded in death by his grandparents.
Those who will forever cherish his memory include his wife Angie and daughter Kama Rene Christner of West Des Moines, IA; daughters Aurora Dell and Briar Rose Christner of Solon, IA; parents Bob and Barbara Christner of Mount Ayr; sisters Brenda (Darrell) Adams of Kellerton, Beth Christner of Mount Ayr, and Belinda (Noah) Carpenter of Council Bluffs, IA; nieces and nephews Ashley Adams-Kopf (Will) and family, Austin Adams (Courtney) and family, Alden Adams, Adler Adams, Alyssa Adams (Trevor Morgan) and family, Abbey Adams, Logan Carpenter, and Makenna Carpenter; parents-in-law Duane and Lois Armstrong; brothers-in-law Russ Armstrong (Cindy) and family, Scott Armstrong, and Ryan Armstrong (Jacque) and family; sister-in-law Teresa Carroll (Jeff) and family other relatives and many good and dear friends.
Services were held on Saturday, August 5, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Baptist Presbyterian Church in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Officiating was Jeff Scott. Hymns were God Bless the U.S.A, Humble and Kind, and Broken Halos. Active casket bearers were Alden Adams, Austin Adams, Adler Adams, Scott Armstong, Russ Armstong and Ryan Armstong. Honorary casket bearers were Jeff Carroll, Tyler Carroll, Jordan Armstong, Tanner Armstong, Darrell Adams, Noah Carpenter, Brad Halsted, and Rod Halsted. Final resting place is Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa. Memorials can be left in his name to be decided later.