Charlene Elizabeth Christensen Hankammer

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Charlene was born December 3l, 1968 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Darol and Marjorie Stock Christensen. She graduated from Bountiful High School where she was active in choral music programs and was a member of Xela singing group. She received an Associates Degree in Fashion Merchandising at Utah Valley State College (now UVU) in Orem, Utah. This was followed by a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from the University of Utah and a Masters in Social Work from Boise State University.

Employed as a mental health counselor at the Vet Center (VA) Readjustment Counseling Service, she treated combat trauma in Boise in 2000. On May 11, 2002 she married Wayne Hankammer in Colorado Springs. She worked for the VA there, guiding a VA program called an Intensive Outpatient Program or IOP. In 2008 Wayne accepted a job with Homeland Security in Artesia, New Mexico as a Critical Incident Stress Management Specialist/Instructor. There she worked in mental health, but generally she and Wayne wrote articles on police suicide prevention and dream therapy for combat veterans. She and Wayne made their home there together until her death on June 19, 2011.

Charlene was a creative, thrifty and loving woman who had a great playful side with her traveling buddy, Wayne. They traveled to many places often based on the savings Charlene made from investments and savvy shopping. She artfully decorated her home with Wayne and consistently sought ways to improve their lives together. It was Charlene that found the job for Wayne in New Mexico which had the benefit of a double promotion for Wayne. She is survived by her husband Wayne, father Darol, sister Cheryl and brother Craig. Preceded in death by her mother, Marjorie.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday June 25, 2011 at Lindquist''s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 North 400 East Bountiful, Utah. A visitation will be held Friday from 6-8 pm and Saturday 9:45-10:45 am prior to the services. Interment Bountiful Memorial Park. Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com