William Henry Carstens

William Henry Carstens

July 19, 1928 - April 10, 2014

TRENTON, Nebraska --William Henry Carstens was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 19, 1928, to Fredrick Karl Carstens and Alma Sophia Koepke. In 1932, the family moved to Fremont, Nebraska to be raise with two sisters. The oldest being Adel Tabor who is presently living in Yuma, Arizona and his younger sister, Marleine Phillips who lives in Mapleton, Iowa. He graduated in 1947 from Fremont High School, where he was on the school basketball team.

Upon leaving high school, he went into the construction work building grain elevators throughout southern Nebraska.

In 1948, while working in McCook, he met Clara Belle Carpenter and they got married on July 30, 1950. They had three sons: Fred William Carstens, Daniel Lynn Carstens and Christopher Allen Carstens. In 1958, the family moved to Bayard, Nebraska, where William Carstens, who went by his nickname "Bill," became a district sales manager for the Mormon Feed Company. In 1959, the Carstens family moved back to McCook and Bill went to work for the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Later on, he managed the American Legion Club and then the VFW Club and was the bar tender of both organizations. In 1969, he started Red Willow Painting Service and remained in this industry until 1992 when he retired. He then traveled and spent time with his sons and grandchildren, doing his favorite thing, which was watching football games.

Cremation was chosen by family and no services are planned. Friends may leave on-line condolences at herrmannfh.com

Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.