Christopher Alan Henderson

Christopher “Chris” Alan Henderson, 37, of Wasilla, and a former resident of St. Paul and North Branch, Minn., passed away Dec. 25. He was born Jan. 15, 1971 in St. Paul, Minn., to David Alan Henderson and Joyce Marie Jensen. He graduated from North Branch High School in Minnesota.

Chris served in the U.S. Army before moving to Anchorage in 1995 where he remained until moving to Wasilla in 2002. He was an oilfield operator working on the North Slope. But his love was his involvement with the Greater Prudhoe Bay Rescue where he was a Captain and as an EMT Volunteer Firefighter with the Wasilla Fire Department where he was a Captain. Chris proudly served with Stations 52 and 61 in Wasilla.

Chris had many loves in his life, but his No. 1 love was for his sons Bailey and Joshua, all else paled in comparison. He was a loving father and loved and adored those boys. They were followed by his love for firefighting, hunting, fishing and snowmachining. He became a firefighter because he liked to help people, and as a young child, his Grandpa Floyd would read him stories about Alaska that instilled a love for Alaska. Bailey and Joshua were known to say that “Dad was fun” and he was the “Bestest Dad ever.”

Chris is survived by his sons; Bailey Alan Henderson and Joshua Alan Henderson , former wife, Melissa Elma Henderson all of Wasilla; mother, Joyce Marie Jensen (Christopher “Pops”) of Minneapolis; father, David Alan Henderson (Lori) of Anchorage; sister, Angie May Perrin (Nate), Stacy, Minn.; brothers, Mike Robert Wilcox (Katie), Isanti, Minn., Jessie LeTourneau , Jeremy LeTourneau, Ryan Henderson and Michael Henderson all of Anchorage and sister, Sarah Henderson of Anchorage as well, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by Grandpa Floyd Henderson Sr.

Chris Henderson’s Childrens Memorial fFnd has been set up at Wells Fargo Bank. Donations may be made at a local branch near you.

The Central Mat-Su Fire Dept. will have a Celebration of Life for Chris at 7 p.m., at the Mat-Su Resort on Tuesday.

Viewing will be Friday at 11 a.m., until 12:45 p.m., with a funeral following at 1 p.m., at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer. Burial will follow at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Valley Funeral Home-Wasilla.