John Willis Christianson of Lebanon. Loving son of Emma "Joyce" Willis Christianson and the late Donald C. Christianson. Beloved husband of the late Louise Christianson. Cherished brother of Donna (Gary) Weisman, Charles Christianson, Robert (Jeanne Dickman) Christianson, and Carol (Jeff) Stone. Proud to be an uncle to many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Passed away February 25, 2024 at the age of 76.

John Christianson, blind from infancy, was raised in a loving family to be fully engaged with life and the community. His early formal education was in public schools in Cincinnati and Mason, before attending and graduating from high school at the Ohio State School for the Blind in Columbus. John's love of rock, country, pop and jazz music led him to enroll at Career Academy in Columbus, where he studied radio announcing and became a licensed disc jockey. Over the time of his career, he was employed at four radio stations, ran the Mason Answering Service business, worked in Arkansas at the state house and as a switch board operator for the SW Florida Water Management District in Tampa. In Tampa, he met his wife Louise and was married in 1991. After retirement they moved to Bartow so he again could be on the air for WBAR, a country music station.

Growing up in Mason, John enjoyed camping, canoeing on the Little Miami River, swimming, and bicycling on his tandem. He was active in the Boy Scouts (his father was one of the scout leaders who ran bike outings) and in activities at the Mason Methodist Church. John loved traveling, enjoying long road-trip vacations with his family in his youth. As an adult, he traveled frequently to visit friends and relatives all over the country, mostly on buses and trains.

John loved his radio and could recite from memory the call signs of local and distant stations that he listened to. He had a vast knowledge of musical artists, songs, and their release dates. He very seldom lost at a game of "name that tune". In addition, John was a serious baseball fan, particularly of the Cincinnati Reds, and later also the Tampa Bay Rays. He always had his radio to his ear at live games so he could hear the announcer's play by play. His memory of past games and players was impressive.

In 2013, a few years after Louise died, John moved to the Otterbein Senior Life retirement community, where his mother currently resides. Until dementia took a toll in his final years, John was a friendly, outgoing spirit with a big laugh. He could and would talk your arm off.

Family and friends will be received from 1-2 PM on Friday, March 8 at Otterbein - Lebanon, 585 State Route 741, Lebanon, OH 45036, where a Celebration of Life will be held at 2 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of John may be directed to Cincinnati Association for the Blind , 2045 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45202.