Realtor, business owner Lowell Christensen, dead at 78

Advertiser Staff

Lowell Haruo Christensen, who worked in real estate and the savings and loan business in Hawai'i, died Feb. 23 in Provo, Utah. He was 78.

Christensen was born on April 23, 1923, in Osaka, Japan. Raised in Honolulu, Christensen attended the University of Hawai'i and the University of Southern California, where he earned a degree in business administration.

Christensen served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He returned to the islands following the war and began a long career in real estate.

In 1960, Christensen was named Realtor of the year by the Honolulu Realty Board. At that time, he was a sales manager with Island Homes.

Christensen served as president of the Honolulu Realty Board in 1961. A year later, he and another real estate agent founded Island Federal Savings & Loan of Honolulu.

But real estate remained in Christensen's blood, and in 1967 he opened his own business, Investra Inc., and specialized in business and property development.

In 1969, Christensen and his family moved to Provo, where he continued his real estate career. He also served on the Provo City Planning Commission for seven years and was on the Provo City Airport Board.

Christensen is survived by his wife, Catherine Renee; children, Jim, Brent, Cathy Bradley, Jill Williams and Bobbie Broadhead; and 26 grandchildren.

Services were held on the Mainland.