Kirk Christensen

Kirk Robert Christensen, 66 of Carroll, known to nearly everyone simply as “Beamer,” died on August 21, 2026 at his home in Carroll surrounded by his family. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at Holy Spirit Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Craig Collison. Music will be by Jake Gute. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Tom Louis. Gift Bearers will be Jim and Marci Hinners. Casket Bearers will be Tim Kopriva, Dennis McCartan, Rob Cordes, Terry Olson, Scott Duhrkopf and Keith Petersen. Private family burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. A visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a sharing of memories at 7 p.m. There will be no public visitation on Tuesday at the church prior to the Funeral Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for a later designation. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Kirk’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. Kirk was born March 20, 1960 to Robert and Maggie (Allspach) Christensen and grew up in Dike, Iowa. After graduating high school, Beamer went to college at Ellsworth and University of Northern Iowa, graduating with a degree in physical education in 1982. After years of knowing one another through family connections and the Dike community, Beamer married Diane Kopriva on June 13, 1987. Diane’s fun and energetic personality had a way of getting Beamer into all kinds of shenanigans, bringing out a playful side of him that those closest to him treasured. Beamer and Diane enjoyed 39 years of laughter, adventure, travel, and memories with the family they built together. Beamer taught in Pearl City and Baxter, before eventually moving to Carroll where he taught P.E., Health, and Driver’s Ed for the last nearly 30 years. He especially loved teaching special education P.E. classes, where the students held a particularly close place in his heart. In addition to teaching, Beamer was a coach through and through. For 42 years, he coached a variety of sports—football, baseball, basketball, and track— including 25 years as the head girls’ track coach. His impact stayed with his students long after they graduated and many of his former athletes stayed in touch with him over the years. One former athlete recently described Beamer as the person who taught her the perfect balance of working hard and having fun—something she now tries to pass on to her own children as they enter sports. From spending time with his “football family” of fellow coaches, to celebrating a member of his track team getting a PR, Beamer loved every aspect of coaching, especially the chance to coach each of his sons. One of his favorite sayings was, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” For Beamer, that meant you didn’t need to tell people how good you were. Let your performance, your character, and your work ethic speak for themselves. It was a philosophy he lived every day. And then there was golf. Beamer loved golf. And though he would never boast about it himself, he was pretty good. He passed that love on to his sons and the four of them made up his favorite foursome, spending countless hours together on the golf course. A highlight was their trip to the Masters in 2024. The boys inherited Beamer’s love of the game and also his competitive spirit. They created an annual competition—the Christensen Classic—with a trophy that rotates each year to the best player. Diane looks forward to stepping in and keeping the Christensen foursome and golf traditions going with her boys. After retiring from the school, Beamer began working at the country club, a "job" that gave him plenty of opportunities to be on the golf course. Retirement suited him well, and he filled his calendar quickly—he ate with his breakfast crew every Wednesday and Friday morning, booked tee times with his Wednesday and Thursday golf buddies, and never passed up an opportunity to hear some live music with friends. Beamer didn’t limit himself to just one best friend, he had countless really great friends. Beamer taught his three boys many lessons, but none more consistently than the value of showing up and doing your best. He rarely missed a day of work, and his family can't recall a single time he called in sick. In fact, when Kyle was born, he famously took only a half day before heading back to work that afternoon (a family story he never quite lived down.) Alongside the lessons of commitment, he taught them something even more important: family should always come first. He took great pride in the husbands, fathers, and family men his boys became, knowing they carried forward the values he and Diane worked so hard to instill. Beamer wasn’t the loudest person in the room, but he was sneakily funny. Even in his final days, he would deliver one-liners that had everyone in the room laughing. Somehow, he always found a way to make people smile, even in the hardest moments. Throughout the challenges of the past year, Beamer remained true to himself. He faced brain surgery, a terminal cancer diagnosis, and the realities of his illness with remarkable composure. He rarely complained. Even when doctors asked him to describe his pain honestly, his family often had to push him to admit when something hurt. His instinct was never to complain or make things about himself. His family will miss Beamer’s steady presence, unexpected one-liners, and go with the flow demeanor. More than anything, they’ll carry forward what he taught them: show up. Give it your best. Put your family first. And have fun along the way. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Diane; his 3 sons Kyle (Kenidy), Jace (Alex), and Brad (Chelsey); his 7 grandchildren Knox, Kinsley, Jude, Dawson, Campbell, Emersyn, and Camilla; his mother Maggie Christensen; his sisters Keri (Ron) Hanus and Kris Christensen; his countless great friends; and the many students and athletes who carry on the lessons he taught them. Beamer was preceded in death by his dad Robert Christensen, his mother-in-law Donna Kopriva, and his nephew Michael Robson.

Kirk Christensen

March 20, 1960 - August 21, 2026