A prominent local business owner, with many ties to the community, Bob Christensen passed away over the weekend. It's with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the passing of Bob Christensen, the owner of three TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® locations. Bob has made a huge impact on the communities and surrounding areas in Rockford, IL, Peoria, IL, and the Quad Cities. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Rockford, Freeport, Loves Park, and surrounding areas have donated thousands of dollars to the area over the last 15 years and helped underprivileged men find a path to success. During his three-year battle with colon cancer, Bob remained extremely positive and focused on continuing to help as many people as possible despite being in extreme pain. He was working at his TWO MEN AND A TRUCK office the week before he passed.
Christensen is well known for MOVING PEOPLE FORWARD® in the Rockford and Freeport areas. He often hired employees who were down on their luck and gave them a future they didn’t think they could achieve. Juan Gallegos is one of the first movers hired in Rockford in 2008. He says, “Growing up, I never really had a father figure, or a true friend and you filled that void for me. Not a week goes by where I don’t think of you or mention the ways you have impacted my life. “Gallegos now owns his own TWO MEN AND A TRUCK store in El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico. In 2008, TWO MEN AND TRUCK Rockford won the best start up franchise award. One of Christensen’s long-time manager, Greg Micklos, now owns TWO MEN AND A TRUCK in Pensacola, FL. Christensen also helped his son’s childhood friend, Jay Mellentine, become a franchisee. Mellentine owns seven TWO MEN AND TRUCK franchises in the U.S. Christensen’s daughter-in-Law, Jen Christensen, just opened a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK in Cookeville, TN in 2023. Bob Christensen not only helped people become owners, but he also gave people the opportunity to make a good living and contribute to society. Driver Dubrick Tucker says, “He gave me an opportunity when no one else did, even when I made stupid mistakes. He always saw the good in me.” “Brick” has been a driver with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK for 12 years.
Freeport Native Bob Christensen also actively recruited veterans to work at all his stores. The U.S. Army veteran served from 1969-1971. He had orders to go to Vietnam, but was sidelined at a base in Tacoma, WA. He inspected mess halls and took steps to prevent food-borne illnesses and mosquito-borne diseases. He has hired more than 15 veterans to work at his stores throughout the years.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Rockford donates to the local community each year through its MOVERS FOR MOMS® and MOVERS FOR MUTTS® campaigns. Single women in need of clothing, food, and baby supplies benefit from the campaign as well as animals without homes at local shelters. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK gathers items from community members and donates them to Remedies Renewing Life, The Rockford Rescue Mission, Kiwanis Club, PAWS Humane Society, Noah’s Ark Sanctuary, Womanspace, Once Upon a Dream, Salvation Army, Freeport Area Church Cooperative, Aquin Catholic Schools, Madonna Renewal Center, and STIX baseball.
You will also see TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® employees donating their time to events like Stroll on State, Main Street Market, the Rockford Police Department, and the Rockford Fire Department. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK also sent a truck load of supplies to Hurricane Relief efforts in Texas with the help of Hometown Realtors and Big Radio.
Bob Christensen said on many occasions, “I get the pleasure of seeing my employees grow and succeed and I want them to know I care about them.” Bob grew the franchise to include Peoria, IL and Davenport, IA and created the same opportunity for people in those areas. When you see TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® drive by, please give two short honks in support of Bob. The company will continue to honor Bob’s legacy with the support of his wife, Marg Christensen, and their two sons, Kevin and Cory.
Funeral arrangements can be found at https://www.burketubbs.com/obituaries/Robert-Christensen?obId=30278807&fbclid=IwAR0bU-ZxUeeUB-SwRJB1TPR_7IMiqBi23IWXdiZFxWPBM_76rPT-7SaLgJU
Article about Bob: Rockford's TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Owner Bob Christensen dies at 76 | News | wrex.com
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