Jay C Carstensen (1948-2016)

CARSTENSEN, JORGENSEN, BEAVER, BYRNE, NIXON

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/7/2016 at 12:26:31

Obituary from The Des Moines Register published May 30, 2016.

Jay C Carstensen passed away on May 26, 2016 with his family by his side, at his home in Peoria, AZ following a long battle with Type I Diabetes and severe aplastic anemia.

Born in Bridgeport, CT, August 20, 1948, to Harold Carstensen and Gloria Jorgensen Carstensen, Jay spent his early childhood in Fairfield, CT, moving to Middle Haddam, CT when he started school. He graduated from Roger Ludlowe High School before joining the Marine Corp. Jay proudly served his country in Vietnam with distinction. After being honorably discharged, he moved to Indianola, IA to play football, where he lettered, at Simpson College. After graduating he went to work for R.G. Dickinson and raised his family on a farm near Maxwell, IA. He moved to Chicago, IL in 1991 and was Chief Investment Officer at LaSalle St. Securities for 25 years. The markets were in his blood; always up at 5:00 A.M. for the early report on CNBC and working hard beyond when the final bell rang at the end of the day. He enjoyed playing and watching sports - just ask anyone he golfed with!

Jay had such a positive and dynamic personality. He was a true "people person" with a real zest for life. Jay truly considered each and every day a gift from God. The unconditional love that he had for his family and friends was evident in all that he did, always putting them at the forefront of his life.

"The spirit of Jay's incredibly giving heart and unconditional love will always bring warmth to our hearts and direction to our lives. We look forward to the time where we can be together again in God's Kingdom."

Jay is survived by his wife Veronica; son Ryan (Michelle) Carstensen, daughter Kristin (Regan) Beaver, daughter Heidi (Katie) Carstensen; Grandchildren Samuel Carstensen, Maggie Carstensen, Jacob Carstensen, Rachel Beaver, Jack Beaver, and Jay's youngest grandbaby due in July; his sisters Joy Byrne and Candy Nixon. Jay was preceded in death by his parents.

Jay will be buried in Fairfield, CT and a celebration of his life will be held on his birthday, August 20th , 2016 in Chicago (details of this event will be forthcoming). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Program of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Northwestern University in Chicago.