Reverend Gerard A. Christianson 1960—2016Reverend Gerard A. Christianson, died December 5, 2016, at Moorings Health Care Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois, after a courageous battle with cancer. Father was born on December 9, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, to Edward Christianson and Margaret Meegan Christianson. Father Christianson attended Loyola University and Northeastern Illinois in Chicago. Before entering seminary, Father was a Math teacher and directed an alternative school for at risk students. He entered St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2007, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 19, 2012, by the Most Reverend David J. Malloy. His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Parish, Rockford and taught part-time at Boylan Central Catholic High School, Rockford, (6/2012-6/2015). He became Parochial Administrator of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Sandwich in June, 2015, and Pastor of that parish in May, 2016. Father was also a Diocesan Consultor and Associate Master of Ceremonies for the Diocese. Father is survived by his mother and father; siblings, Mary (Phillip) Bissell, Meegan (Tim) Gibbons, Edward (Beth) Christianson, Jennifer (Francisco) Rios, Kathleen Christianson; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday, December 12, 2016, at the Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243 N. Church Street, Rockford. Visitation will be from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 11, at the Cathedral with a Rosary at 7:30 p.m., and visitation from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the Mass. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Winnebago, Illinois. Arrangements are being made by Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Rockford, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Diocese of Rockford Vocations Office, 555 Colman Center Drive, P. O. Box 7044, Rockford, IL 61125.