Alfred John Karsten, 25 Jun 1931 - 09 Sep 2024

KARSTEN, BURKE, WERNING, CHRISTOFFERSEN, LAPWORTH, ALBRECT, GERHARDT, GLOMSKI, RICE, HUEDEPOHL

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 9/18/2024 at 13:31:59

By God’s grace through faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ, Alfred John Karsten, Marengo, was called from this life to be with the Lord on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the age of 93. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 14 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marengo, with Rev. Andrew Gray and Rev. Dr. Wilfred Karsten officiating. Burial will be in the Marengo Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, September 13 from 4-6 p.m. at St. John’s and one hour before the service. Memorials may be contributed to St. John’s.

During the heat wave of 1931, Alfred was born on June 25th to William and Meta (Burke) Karsten on the family farm in Washington Township, Marengo, Iowa. He was reborn as a child of God in the waters of Holy Baptism on August 2, 1931, and was confirmed in the Christian faith on June 25, 1944, both at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church north of Marengo. Alfred attended St. Martin’s parochial school until 6th grade. When the school closed, he then attended one year at Washington #2 and one year at St. Clair Township #5. After his graduation from Blairstown High School in 1948, Alfred farmed with his father and brother Kenneth. He was the 4th generation to live and work on the Karsten farm, and would continue to work this land for the next 40 years. In 1952, he was drafted into the army and served in southern Germany during the Korean War. After his two years of service concluded in August 1954, he returned home to the farm in Iowa County.

On September 2, 1956, Alfred was united in marriage to Lorene Werning at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Newhall. They were blessed with six children and looked forward to their visits and the family gathering at the farm every Christmas. Their home was also a welcoming place to missionaries and church visitors.

Church, family, and farm work were the most important things to Alfred. His life reflected his confirmation verse, Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” While cutting thistles out of the fields with his children, he would remind them this was a result of sin and that we have a Savior. Alfred enjoyed showing visitors to the farm how the sheep knew his voice and would only come when he called them. He related how our Good Shepherd Jesus knows us by name and we are to listen to His voice. Alfred was active on various church committees and boards, including The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Iowa District East board of directors, was an elder, and was a regular member of the dartball team at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church and later at St. John’s in Marengo. He looked forward to attending church service each Sunday and whenever special services were offered. He loved to sing and used his voice for the glory of God by singing with the church choirs and also as soloist for many funerals and weddings. He even sang hymns as he did farm chores. One friend commented, “He must have the most contented sheep.”

Alfred grew up in the same house as his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He also followed in their footsteps of living out their Christian faith. Alfred and Lorene spent their nearly 60 years of marriage living in the same home on that same farm. For ten years he cared for his wife as she succumbed to Alzheimer’s. His family was grateful for the blessing of a loving Christian husband and father.

After the death of his wife in 2016, Alfred moved into an apartment at The Lodge and later Rose Haven in Marengo. He enjoyed the sing-alongs at Rose Haven and could be heard singing hymns in the hallway at Christmas and Easter.

Alfred is survived by his children Wilfred (Lynette) Karsten, Kay (Randy) Christoffersen, Arlin (Sue) Karsten, Tammy (Neil) Lapworth, Tim (Sandra) Karsten, and Thomas (Kim) Karsten; grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Anna (Brian) Albrecht, Elizabeth, Bethany; Rachel (Matt) Gerhardt; Ryan (Liz) Christoffersen, Margot; Eric (Eve) Christoffersen, Lillian, Emmaline; Sarah (Ted) Glomski; Stephanie Christoffersen; John (Madi) Karsten; Paul (Grace) Karsten, Liv; Mattie (Adam) Rice, Charlie; Ketrick (Grace) Karsten, Pearson; and Aidan Karsten; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law LaVonne Karsten; Wilfred (Doris), Vernon (Tammy), Pat, Bonnie Werning. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, brother Kenneth; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Delbert (Lusann/Kathy), Merlin, Charles (Beverly), Leroy, Duane (Ruth) Werning; Ruth (Don) Huedepohl. Special thanks to Pastor Gray, Dr. Ben Miller, and staff at The Lodge, Rose Haven, and Essence of Life.

Published in The Gazette on September 11, 2024.