Christine "Chris" Baumgarten

Christine “Chris” Baumgarten, age 85, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2025, with a view overlooking Lake Michigan in Manitowoc, the first place she lived after immigrating to the USA.

Christine was born Irmengard Schäfer on January 31, 1940, in Traunstein, Germany, to Anna (née Forstner) and Johann Schäfer.

Christine immigrated with her first husband, Robert Christl, and their infant son. They had two more children together before discovering and falling in love with Door County in the sixties. The family of five moved to Fish Creek in 1969, where Chris was a longtime proprietor of the Château Rouge and later Town and Country Beauty Salon. After 30 years raising her family in Fish Creek, Chris spent nearly 25 years as a resident of Washington Island.

Chris always had a house pet to care for and loved to feed wildlife of all kinds, from birds and squirrels to foxes and deer. Steven seagull, and foxy Roxy are surely missing her.

Chris enjoyed flower gardening and spending time with family and friends as well as watching the Island baseball games. Chris was a volunteer driver for bus trips to the mainland and did hair for residents of Scandia. Chris often had a short joke to tell and was known to have a witty and humorous comeback.

Christine was preceded in death by her second husband, Charles Speck Baumgarten, in 1981; her first husband, Robert Christl, in 2020; her daughter, Yvonne Christl, in 1990; and her son, Daniel Christl, in 2023.

Surviving family members include Christine's son, Patrick Christl; her grandson, Andrew Christl (Allison); her granddaughter, Kaitlyn Rabe; her great-grandchildren, Katrina Christl, Caleb Christl, Olivia Christl, Sophia Christl, and Charlie Christl; her stepsons, Charlie Baumgarten and Ted Baumgarten.

Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Sister Bay is assisting the family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Chris may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.CaspersonFuneralHome.com.

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