In Memory of Robert E. Carstens

Robert E. Carstens, age 89, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on Sunday, February 6, 2022,at his home surrounded by family.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m., with a visitation held one hour prior from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 28, 2022, at the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. Rev. Randy D. Cormeny will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mount Hope Cemetery of Battle Creek, Iowa.

The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Bob was born October 10^th, 1932, on a farm near Arthur, Iowa to Viola and Eddie Carstens. He grew up in Ida Grove and Battle Creek, Iowa.

Bob served in the Army during the Korean Conflict and was discharged in 1953. He had many stories about his military adventures.  December of 1953 Bob met the love his life, Dottie.  Dottie was visiting her cousins in Battle Creek, and she met Bob at a dance in Lakewood Ballroom in Lake View, Iowa.  July of 1955 they were married in Winnipeg, Manitoba and soon after moved to Storm Lake, Iowa.  Over the years they lived in Des Moines and Peru, Iowa then moved to suburbs surrounding the Twin Cities, back to Colfax, Iowa and eventually to Mesa, Arizona.

While living in Peru, IA they built Bob’s dream house a beautiful log cabin with a pond for ducks and geese to wander around and swim in.  It was then, they picked up a long standing name change as they became Grandma and Grandpa Ducks.

Bob enjoyed people, he never met a person that he didn’t want to stop and visit with. He was blessed with the gift of gab and that was a trait that he passed on to many of his children. After moving to Mesa, he enjoyed cruising around in his golf cart looking for new friends to chat and share life stories with. He also enjoyed venturing to the dumpsters to find useful treasures he could fish out. Bob loved all his kids the same, unless of course you were taking him to the casino, and then you were his favorite. He loved going to all of the casinos in Arizona, but his most favorite was whatever casino he last won at. He enjoyed watching others gamble next to him and the conversations he would have with fellow senior gamblers.  He will be missed for his stories and for trying to help resolve all of the issues of the world.  One thing that stands out was his Grandpa Duck pancakes that were loved by all.

Bob is preceded in death by wife Dorothy “Dottie” Carstens. He is survived by his sons, Terry (Deb) Carstens, Jim (Lynne) Carstens, Brian Carstens, Rob (Cheryl) Carstens, his daughter Barb Carstens and brother Jack (Marolyn) Carstens. In addition, there are 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and relatives.