Carstensen, Laura May 1919-2012

CARSTENSEN, THOMAS, WOITTE, ELLERHOFF, BARBER, BOWMAN, SMITH

Posted By: Ruth Maring - VOLUNTEER
Date: 4/19/2012 at 16:43:16

Laura (Mrs. William) Carstensen, 92, of DeWitt, Iowa, died late Tuesday evening, April 17, 2012 at Westwing Place, DeWitt.

Mrs. Carstensen was born Laura May Thomas, July 17, 1919 in Warner, Alberta Canada to William and Ella (Woitte) Thomas. Laura graduated from Warner High School. She went on to study nursing at the Royal Alexandra School of Nursing in Edmonton, Alberta. Laura worked as a Surgical Nurse first at Royal Alexandra and later at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. She later did surgical nursing at Moline Public Hospital. On November 30, 1949, Laura was united in marriage to William Thomas Carstensen at the DeWitt Methodist Church.

Laura was a longtime and active member of the United Methodist Church. She enjoyed gardening, stitchery and knitting.

Surviving are her loving husband of 62 years, William; a daughter and son-in-law, Louise and Larry Ellerhoff of DeWitt; siblings, William (Joyce) Thomas of Warner, Alberta, Myrtle (Ellis) Barber of DeWitt, Earl (Kay) Thomas of Lethbridge, Alberta and Eleanor Bowman of DeWitt.

Preceding Laura in death were her parents, a sister, Hazel Smith and brothers-in-law, Wilfred Smith and Kenneth Bowman.

The family will receive friends at Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt, from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 20, 2012. A Service of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2012 in the United Methodist Church, DeWitt. The Reverend Chuck Kelsey will officiate. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery, DeWitt. Memorials may be made to Westwing Place for spiritual care and the United Methodist Church of DeWitt.

Pallbearers will be Joel Carstensen, Bob Bowman, Dean Barber, Richard Fell, Dale Simonson and Craig Schmidt.

Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com