Carstensen, Lawrence Daniel 1930-2016

CARSTENSEN, BOOTHBY, BEACH, FINNICUM, SANCHEZ, HAKE, BICKLE, GRANT, KLOSE, ECKLEY, KOVACS

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer
Date: 9/25/2016 at 21:23:52

Lawrence Daniel Carstensen
May 15, 1930 - August 21, 2016

Lawrence Daniel Carstensen died August 21, 2016, age 86. Funeral Services will be held at First United Methodist Church, Clinton, Iowa on August 24 at 11 AM, with luncheon to follow at the church. Burial of ashes will be in the Lusk Cemetery, Albany, Illinois. The Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes and Crematory is assisting the family with the arrangements.

He was born in Clinton May 15, 1930, the son of Jens Daniel Carstensen and Charlotte Marie Boothby Carstensen. He married Doris Lucy Beach June 22, 1958, on the lawn of the Beach family home overlooking the Mississippi River, Albany, Illinois. They are the parents of a son, Harry David Carstensen (Cleone Marie Finnicum Carstensen), and a daughter, Susan Marie Carstensen (Dr. Edward Carlos Munn Sanchez).

He graduated from Lyons High School in 1948. He served as an enlisted man in the U. S. Navy. He attended the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Law of the State University of Iowa (U of I) graduating in 1955. He attended the National College of the State Judiciary at Reno, Nevada in 1976. He practiced law for ten years in association with Attorneys Margaret Miller Kolarik and Glen T. Cousins, and for ten years in association with Attorney Rodney C. Schroeder.

He served in public office for many years. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives for six years and in 1963 the Des Moines Press Club honored him as outstanding member of the House of Representatives. He served as County Attorney of Clinton County for six years. He was appointed by Governor Robert Ray to assist in the creation of the Iowa Citizens’ Aide, Ombudsman. The office continues to exist as a statutory office. He served for two years as a member of the Iowa Board of Parole. In 1975 he was appointed as a Judge of the Seventh Judicial District of Iowa. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Clinton Public Library for twelve years. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of New Directions, Clinton, and of the Area Substance Abuse Council, Cedar Rapids, which includes Clinton County. He faithfully supported the Clinton Group of Alcoholics Anonymous. He was also welcomed in the ACOA group in Columbia, South Carolina.

He was a member of the Albany Illinois United Methodist Church and a long time member of First United Methodist Church of Clinton, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife and his son, Harry David Carstensen (Cleone) of Thibodaux, Louisiana, and by his daughter, Susan Marie Carstensen (Ed) of Columbia, South Carolina. Also surviving are four grand-children: David Medrick Munn Carstensen and Anna Maria Munn Carstensen of Columbia, South Carolina, Jeffery Henry Hake, Jr., of Thibodaux, Louisiana, Jordan Charles Hake of Union, New Jersey; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law: Mary Ann Bickle Carstensen of LeClaire, Iowa, Joyce Beach Grant (Richard) of Urbandale, Iowa, and Vey Beach Klose of Peoria, Illinois; by his nephews: David Bruce Carstensen, Robert Lawrence Carstensen, John Charles Carstensen, and Howard Lee Klose; by his nieces: Dawn Irene Eckley, Ann Elisabeth Klose, and Amy Jane Kovacs; and by their children.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his elder brother, Dr. David Jens Carstensen.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made the First United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice.