Verland "Max" Christiansen

Verland Max Christiansen passed away on January 28, 2025, after a battle with cancer. Born on December 30, 1945, in Salt Lake City, Utah, he spent his final moments in Show Low, Arizona, surrounded by family.

Max’s life really started at the age of fifteen when he met Susan Jensen at a church dance he attended while visiting his brother Bob over the summer. Her first words to him were “why do you keep staring at me?” That night ignited a love that would last a lifetime and continue through the eternities.

Max was an athlete with a sharp mind. He excelled in football, swimming, and track at Del Valle High School in Walnut Creek, CA and earned honors like the Bank of America Achievement Award and a National Merit commendation. He studied at Brigham Young University, and Cal State Hayward, but also adopted a habit of continuously learning about anything that interested him. His children agree that "he was Google before Google existed."

Max was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He shared his love of the Savior as a missionary from 1965 to 1967 in the Gulf States Mission, including six months as Assistant to the Mission President. He loved his experience as a missionary and spoke of lessons learned on his mission throughout his life. Max also shared his love for the Savior by contributing time as a Boy Scout leader, guiding young men in their personal and spiritual development while organizing adventures like a bike trip down the California coast.

Always an entrepreneur at heart, Max led MTR Company throughout the 1970s, offering fiberglass repair services.  He also partnered with his brother Bob, in RoMax Industries, manufacturing fiberglass bathtubs and showers. In the Mid 1980s, encouraged by close family friend, Ken Jensen, he transitioned into financial planning, becoming a Principal and Branch Manager at Judy & Robinson Securities, and later Protected Investors of America. He operated his Walnut Creek office until 2016. In 2000, he founded another business, Christiansen Fasteners, with his sons, Jim and Rob, where he continued to contribute well into 2024.

Beyond his professional and spiritual endeavors, Max loved working with his hands. From gardening and landscaping to home remodeling and auto repair he was happiest when he was working on a project (or two or three!). Over the years, Max did major remodels on three of his homes. Max and his boys built offroad trucks and had great adventures four-wheeling and camping on the Rubicon Trail near Lake Tahoe, as well as around Moab, Utah.

Max had a great love for his four children and always found the time needed to help and teach. He taught his children to work hard! He taught them to build and repair things, and to think things through and solve real problems. Some of the adventures that the family remembers best are the trips where a car or truck broke down and they had to get creative to get it back on the road…or sometimes, even back to the road!

Max adored his 18 grandchildren and three great grandchildren and loved to snuggle the babies. He truly felt that each grandchild was a precious treasure.

Max's legacy is carried on by his beloved wife, Susan Christiansen, and their children: Terri Bateman, Jim Christiansen, Kevin Christiansen, and Rob Christiansen. He was a cherished brother to Robert Christiansen, and sisters Lucy Taylor, and Kay Marshall.

Max lived a life of learning, service, and resilience. He will be deeply missed.

The services for Max will be held on Saturday February 1st at 10 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Love Lake Chapel located at 301 Love Lake Rd in Taylor, AZ.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Verland "Max" Christiansen, please visit our floral store.