Born Valeria Christine Kryshak, Oct. 11, 1930 in Wausau, Christine passed away on her 95th birthday, Oct. 11, 2025.
In her early years, she was the first-chair violin player for the Wausau Symphony Orchestra. Word has it that she could listen to something, then play it by ear. In the early’ 50s she was a stock car racer, not just the “powder puff” races, but racing with the boys at times. Bowling league and later pool league were common hobbies.
Her other passions were dancing and animals. She would drive all over Central Wisconsin with friends if they knew there was a dance nearby, often numerous times a week. Chris loved watching all the wildlife at the lake, regularly feeding the ducks, geese, squirrels, etc. Her cats were her indoor companions.
Being on the lake was important to her. It was family boating on Lake Wausau and Crescent Lake in the ‘50s-‘60s, camping in the ‘70s, a mobile home on the Rainbow Flowage in the ‘80s, and eventually her lake home on Nokomis in Tomahawk.
She worked nearly all of her career at the family store, Val Kryshak Jewelers, eventually becoming a primary owner of it.
She married Dean “Red” McKinley, and later Erwin Baumann. She was preceded in death by both, and her son, Dean McKinley Jr.
She is survived by her daughter Roxanne McKinley, son Mark (Rita) McKinley, her brother Guy (Elaine) Kryshak, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A private memorial will be held for the family. In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations may be given to your local humane society.
