George Walsh Christnacht

Obituary GEORGE W. CHRISTNACHT George Walsh Christnacht was born on April 6, 1928 at St. Joseph's Hospital and died unexpectedly in an auto accident on October 10, 2005. He is survived by his wife Joan of 51 years, their four children James (Debra), Ann Smith (Tracy), Charles (Suzanne), Barbara Claire O'Flaherty (Rory), and their seven grandchildren Travis, Libby, Kristin, Jessica, Andrew, Christopher and Daniel. He is also survived by his sister Mary Ann Maloney (Patrick), his brother James (Joann), and his sister-in-law Juanita Potter (Don). He was a life long resident of Tacoma and attended St. Patrick Grade School and Bellarmine Preparatory High School. He did undergraduate work at the University of Portland and graduated from Gonzaga Law School in 1957. He served his country during the Korean War from 1951-1953 and was stationed in Richland where he met his wife. He was a lifelong member of St. Patrick's Church, past President of St. Patrick School Parents Club, past President of the Serra Club of Tacoma, and a member of the Knights of Columbus (Third & Fourth Degree), the St. Vincent DePaul Society, the Elks Club and the Bally's Mature Men's Morning Tennis group. George was a founding member of the respected law firm of Troup, Christnacht, Ladenburg, McKasy and Durkin and practiced law for almost 50 years. He was also a founding member of the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. He was President and Trustee of the Pierce County Bar Association and Washington State Bar Association. He earned the highest rating for a lawyer from Martindale and Hubble and was an honored fellow of The American College of Trial Lawyers. His professional memberships included the American Bar Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Washington State Bar Association and the Puget Sound Inns of Court. George enjoyed his hobbies of fishing, tennis, woodworking, inventing and spending time at the family beach cabin on Maury Island. He will always be remembered for his keen intelligence, his quick, dry wit, his compassion for others, his dedication to his work, his parish, and most of all for his love and commitment to his family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the George W. Christnacht Fund at St. Vincent DePaul, 4009 South 56th Street, Tacoma, WA 98409 or to the George W. Christnacht Fund at Bellarmine Preparatory High School, 2300 South Washington, Tacoma, WA 98405. A vigil service will be held Thursday, October 13, 2005, 7:00 p.m. at The Gaffney Funeral Home Chapel, 1002 S. Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98405. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, October 14, 2005, 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 5510 North 44th, Tacoma, WA 98407. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneyfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.