Gilbert Eugene Carstens

Gilbert Eugene Carstens was born April 26, 1934, the son of Alfred and Meta Greder Carstens. He died Tuesday, February 7, 2023 in Dow City, Iowa. Gilbert was born on a farm near Buck Grove, Iowa and was baptized in Christ in August 1934 and later confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Buck Grove. He received his education in a rural school near his home and graduated from Denison High School in 1952. At age 19, he was drafted into the Army and deployed for 2 years during the Korean War. On January 15, 1956, Gilbert was united in marriage to Ruth Ahrenholtz at the United Methodist Church in Defiance, Iowa, and to this union two sons and one daughter were born. Gilbert and his family were active members of St. John's Lutheran church in Buck Grove, Iowa. The couple made their home on a farm near Buck Grove. Gilbert was a progressive livestock farmer embracing soil conservation methods, hog confinement systems and cattle crossbreeding operations. In 1970, Gilbert and his family were selected as farm family of the week on the WOW-TV program. Gilbert enjoyed farming, especially raising cattle and hogs. For many years he held a pilot's license and enjoyed flying on cattle buy...[more]

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trips with his brother Lloyd and friends. In 1984, Gilbert and Ruth moved to Loveland Colorado where he began a new career as a federal crop insurance auditor for Rain and Hail. While in Colorado they built their dream log-home along the Devil's Backbone where they enjoyed numerous years of family memories. Gilbert took great pride in developing the Spring Lake farm and hosting friend and family reunions. In 2017, they retired to their home in Dow City and enjoyed more frequent reunions with Iowa family and friends. Gil was preceded in death by his parents, brother Lloyd and his wife Vera, brothers-in-law, Wes and wife Virgene, Willis and Jim, and sister-in-law Loretta and husband Phil Shepard. Survivors include his wife Ruth Carstens of Dow City; two sons, Gordon Carstens (Rhonda Miller) of College Station, Texas; Don Carstens (Jeanie Wood) of Denison, and daughter Sandy Herback (Greg) of Gardnerville, Nevada; 7 grandchildren, Sophie and husband Adam White, Jake, Lauren, Garret and wife Sarah, Ezra, Hannah, Nick and wife Theresa; and 3 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is brother-in-law Leonard Ahrenholtz and wife Shirley, sisters-in-laws Dee Ahrenholtz, Karen Ahrenholtz, Martha Camden and husband Bob, Marie Jennings and numerous other relatives and friends. Honorary pallbearers were Gilbert's grandchildren Lauren, Garret, Sophie, Jake, Ezra, Hannah and Nick. Visitation with Family Greeting Friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. Celebration of Life will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10, 2023 at United Methodist Church in Dow City.