Joe's Journey

A note from Cass Christensen:

Allie Christensen is an amazing wife and daughter in law. This incredible woman met the love of her life, and married him knowing that the road ahead would be a difficult one. She never left his side, and always stayed true. 

She turned her love of fashion and beauty into a career. However… when COVID hit, they had to put her dreams on hold, as she could not risk getting Joe sick. She stood by his side and took care of him. I knew my son was in good hands and I didn’t have to worry as much, but a mom always worries. Allie would say to Joe, “I’ll start working again and help with the bills.” Joe would say to Allie, “I need you by my side.” Allie would drive him to all of his appointments; hold his hand and keep him calm through his whole journey. Allie and Joe were always in sync and were each other’s rock. Joe passed on March 11, 2022, at 3:15 AM. After 6 years of fighting this horrible disease, Joe is finally at peace.

Cancer can put a financial burden on anyone, but my heart breaks because it happened to Joe and Allie at such a young age, not giving them the chance to save for the future or live in the now. Your donation will help Allie with medical bills, every day living expenses, and most importantly, it will give Allie the time she needs to identify her new normal. I want to thank everyone in advance for all the support shared to our families.

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Their Love Story by Michelle Duncan:

This love story began in 2011 with a couple of kids. Allie was a vivacious 16 year old girl who fell in love with a shy gentleman of 15. They would linger in the hallways together, walk each other to class, make mom wait outside in her minivan because they just couldn’t bear to be apart so saying goodbye after school took FOREVER, and then would talk on the phone in the evenings for literally hours like hadn’t seen each other in years. They knew pretty much from the beginning this was special. Even the adults in their lives knew this wasn’t a crush or puppy love. It was deep and true from the beginning. They would dream by the hour what their future would hold together. Joe would go off to college, they would marry, buy a house, get a dog and have children, grow old together.

Joe was an amazing student (understatement…this guy is actually a genius!). He was working and going to college while the two of them planned their future together. In the Spring of 2016 Joe’s brother, Sam, noticed a lump on Joe’s neck. Joe’s mom, Cass, got him in right away to have it checked out. Then the devastating news that it was thyroid cancer. An aggressive and rare type of cancer that young people just do not get. They knew it wouldn’t be cured pretty much off the bat and that it wouldn’t be easy but they steeled themselves for the fight of a lifetime. Surgeries and daily chemo held it at bay for the first few years. And when you’re young, even with a diagnosis like the one Joe was given, you have an optimistic hope that only belongs to those in their youth. But it’s believed that’s probably what gave Joe the good years he had. If you don’t have hope of a future what’s the point of fighting today for it. He forged through the rest of that year and the following year to graduate with honors from the University of Northern Iowa and a degree in Manufacturing Engineering with dual emphasis in Metal Casting and Design - like I said, a genius.

Joe landed a job doing what he loved most: math and problem solving. Allie became a successful entrepreneur in the wedding and fashion beauty industry. With continued chemo treatments and other medical interventions they forged forward still with hopes for the future and towards achieving their dream life together. They had the wedding of their dreams, made a home together with their little pup Bailey, hosted a few family get-togethers, traveled some, had work successes, and were saving towards buying a home. The part they were most looking forward to was in the details of doing the day to day together, side by side, hand in hand.

The best part was watching how they treated each other with such care, respect, and tenderness from the beginning. They were teens that were wise in the things of true love from the beginning. Sure disagreements but never fights. Of course annoying habits but never trying to change the other, only their own reactions. They always put each other first. They were each other’s hype-man/woman. Outsiders could see the love they had by their shared glances from across the room, or the tender way Joe always bent down to kiss Allie’s head throughout the day, the way they talked about the other. You never heard a disparaging word pass their lips about the other in the 11 years they’ve been together.

But like most of the famous love stories this one will end tragically. Allie right now next to Joe’s side, wiping sweat off his brow, holding him close, and comforting him with her touch and words as his journey on this earth comes to an end. He has said his goodbyes to her, family, friends, and now his beloved dog Bailey. As the hour gets closer we want to let Joe go with the comfort of knowing we will continue his legacy of generosity and kindness to others. I’m sure you can just about imagine the medical bills that have been accumulated over the years. They were so young when saddled with a burden that shouldn’t have been theirs to carry. Let’s gather around this couple, sending Joe off knowing his life’s legacy isn’t going to be medical bills or expenses but his kindness and love for all he knew. Please help Allie to have the time to heal and find her place in this world without her other half.

To almost all of us these two are known as “Joe & Allie” or “Allie & Joe”...you don’t get one without the other. Please remember to rally around the half that remains here in the hours, weeks, months, and years to come.