Lucille M. Carstens

Beloved Mother, Mother-in-Law, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, Lucille Carstens left this earth peacefully on May 22, 2014 at the Manilla Manor in the presence of her daughters. Lucille M Carstens was born to Herman and Minnie Steckelberg Miller at their farm home west of Manilla on August 2, 1913. She had an older sister, Selma, and two younger brothers, Alvin & Arno. After graduating from Manilla in 1930 at the age of 16, Lucille took a job at the Manilla school as a secretary. Later she worked as a secretary for the Farm Bureau and Extension Service offices in Denison. On December 25, 1937, she was united in marriage to Melroy Carstens. After their marriage, they made their home on the Carstens' family farm. Melroy and Lucille remained on the farm and happily raised their three daughters, Judy, Joyce and Elaine. Lucille enjoyed being a farmer's wife, mother and homemaker. She was active in church life, 4-H leadership, bowling leagues and community events. She loved to read, do crossword puzzles, ceramics, knit, crochet, quilt and sew. A favorite pastime was working in her beautiful flower gardens. She enjoyed taking part in the Helping Hand Club, family and friend gatherings and school activities. Melroy and Lucille enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Colorado, Las Vegas, California, Missouri and Arizona. She and Melroy enjoyed many fishing trips to Okoboji, Minnesota and Canada with friends and family. They also enjoyed dancing and playing cards. They were avid Iowa State and Kansas City Royal fans. But her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her daughters, sons-in-law, and the summers with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Following her husband's death in 1995, Lucille continued to live on the farm until her eyesight deteriorated. In March of 2004, she made the decision to make her home at the Manilla Manor. She was an eager participant in the activities at the Manor. Lucille celebrated her 100th birthday with family, friends, Manor residents and staff last August. Lucille was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Manning. Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Melroy, her sister Selma, and her brothers Alvin and Arno. She is survived by her three daughters and their husbands: Judy and Marlin Frank of Greeley, CO; Joyce and Ted Miller of Laguna Woods, CA; and Elaine and Galen Struve of Blue Springs, MO. Six grandchildren: Jill Frank, Kristine Adams and her husband Ronnie, Michelle Skipper, Matt Frank and his wife Mara, Dana Struve and Jennifer Rowe and her husband Justin, as well as twelve great-grandchildren: Liddy, Zach, Ryan, Nate, Brittany, Mason, Shayla, Emily, Carter, Mitchell, Noah, Hannah and many nieces, nephews , other relatives and friends. Throughout her life, Lucille expressed gratitude for her life and her many blessings. If you asked Lucille, "How's your day?" She would answer, "It's a bright sunshiny day." Visitation THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014, 5:00 - 7:00 PM OHDE FUNERAL HOME MANILLA, IOWA Funeral Service FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014, 11:00 AM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MANNING, IOWA REV. MARSHALL BROWN, OFFICIANT Music "IN THE GARDEN" "HOW GREAT THOU ART" "SOFTLY AND TENDERLY JESUS IS CALLING" "OPEN MY EYES THAT I MAY SEE" CONNIE SIEPKER, ACCOMPANIST Casket Bearers STEVE JORGENSEN JAY MILLER RON FRAHM TERRY SCHECHINGER MARVIN LORENZEN NYLE GRUHN Interment NISHNABOTNA CEMETERY MANILLA, IOWA