Christian Robert Balvanz

Christian Robert Balvanz, 61, of rural Wellsburg, went to his heavenly home on Friday, March 17, 2023. He died at Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, Iowa, of natural causes. A funeral service was held March 22, 2023 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora, Iowa. Burial took place at East Lawn Memorial Gardens following the service. Funeral arrangements were under the guidance of Creps-Abels Funeral & Cremation Service. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Christian Robert Balvanz, son of Bob and Ruth (Barz) Balvanz, was born in Eldora, Iowa on Dec. 5, 1961. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Eldora. He held faith in his savior, Jesus Christ, his entire life, and died in that faith.

He attended Ackley-Geneva school and graduated in 1980. He graduated with honors from Iowa State University in 1984. On June 21, 1986, Christian was united in marriage to Christine Louise Nolte at Washington Reformed Church of Ackley, Iowa. This union was blessed with four children: Antonia, Sarah, Christopher, and Joshua.

He farmed for eight years and for the next 30 years he worked for the co-op in Cleves, Iowa, managing for 23 years.

Christian was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan since he was 9 years old. Christian was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, serving as a Sunday school teacher for 33 years, and also as an elder and chairman of the congregation. He also served on the Timothy Christian School Board. He loved reading his bible, spending at least an hour nearly every morning in the Word. His family was very dear to him and he cherished time spent with them. His life was a service to many. He was sympathetic and understanding to all. He will be missed by all the lives that he touched.

Christian is survived by his wife, Christine; daughters Antonia (Maryn Tourtelotte) Balvanz of Finland, Iowa, and Sarah Balvanz of Mason City, Iowa; sons Christopher (Tawny Wehan) Balvanz of Eldora, Iowa, and Joshua (Nora) Balvanz of Eldora, Iowa. He is further survived by siblings, Vernon (Maisy) Balvanz of Mexico, Mo., Elaine (Dick) Grubbs of Davenport, Iowa, Nancy Hofmeister of Rowan, Iowa, Keith (Cindy) Balvanz of Wellsburg, Iowa, Katie (Ray) Avery of Mt. Vernon, Wash., and Pam (Todd) Wenndt of Asbury, Iowa; mother-in-law Dianne Notle; brothers-in-law Todd (Verla) Nolte of Ackley, Iowa, and Wade (Natalie Vandenborn) Nolte; many nieces and nephews; four aunts and one uncle.

Christian is preceded in death by his parents, Bob and Ruth Balvanz, and father-in-law Alvin Nolte.