Gertrude Katherina Carstensen 1907-2005

CARSTENSEN, WESPHAL, BRUHN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/1/2009 at 15:07:56

Gertrude Carstensen
June 22, 1907-June 13, 2005

Gertrude K. Carstensen, age 97 of Mapleton, Iowa, died Monday, June 13, 2005 in Mapleton.

Services were held 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 17 at St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Mapleton with Pastor Bob Fritzmeier officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa. Kathy Johnson was the organist for the service and the congregation sang, "The Old Rugged Cross" and "What A Friend We Have in Jesus". A prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, June 16 at the Armstrong Funeral Home in Mapleton.

Gertrude Katherina Carstensen was born June 22, 1907, at Besitorf, Germany, the daughter of Hans and Margarethe (Wesphal) Bruhn. In May of 1934, she married Irwen Kuhtz in Berlin, Germany. He died in 1950. In 1953, Gertie and her daughter, Ingeborg, came to America and settled in Anthon, Iowa after being sponsored by Henry Kollbaum whom she later married. Henry died in May of 1966. On June 19, 1969, Gertie married Emil Carstensen in Sioux City and soon moved to Mapleton, Iowa. Emil died February 1, 1970. Gertie then resided the remainder of her life in Mapleton.

She was a member of St. Peter's United Church of Christ in Mapleton along with the Ladies Guild and the American Legion Auxiliary Loren Hollister Unit #496 of Mapleton.

Survivors include her daughter, Ingeborg Roggatz and her husband, LaVerne, of Anthon, Iowa; two grandchildren, Dennis Roggatz and his wife, Lori and Kathy Ryan and her husband, Patrick; five great grandchildren, Jayne Uhl, Austin and Dustin Roggatz, and Joshua and Zackary Ryan; two brothers, Hans and Gunther Bruhn and one sister, Emmi Lehmann, all still living in Germany.

Along with her husbands, Gertie was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Wolfgang Kuhtz; four brothers; and three sisters.

Pallbearers were Larry Kollbaum, Garry Kollbaum, Roger Kollbaum, Verdene Kollbaum, LaVerne Kollbaum and Arlyn Sands.

Arrangements were made under the direction of the Armstrong Funeral Home of Mapleton.