Christine Lenore Pirner Sao, 43, died quietly the morning of June 8, 2003, following a prolonged illness. Christine’s loving husband of eight years, Roland Sao, was at her side.

Christine was born to Jean and Reuben Pirner in Twin Falls, Idaho, June 19, 1959; she was the second of three children. Christine’s family moved to Heidelberg, Germany, when she was a baby and moved to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1963. Christine graduated from University of Minnesota in Minneapolis with specialties in advertising and journalism in 1990.

Christine loved to travel and was an accomplished athlete and craftswoman and very much her own woman. She is survived by her husband, Roland Sao, of Seattle; her mother, Jean Pirner, of Oak Harbor; her father, Reuben Pirner of Egan, Minn.; two brothers, John Pirner, of Apple Valley, Minn., and Mark Pirner of Gurnee, Ill.; three nephews, Joe, Andrew and Christopher; and her niece, Hannah.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 19, at 2 p.m. at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, 1253 NW Second Ave., Oak Harbor. Pastor Jerry Buss will officiate the service and a reception will follow at the church. Memorials may be made at the service.