Memorial
Kristin Carstensen, 61, died Saturday, November 25, 2017, at the Lisbon Rehabilitation Center in Lisbon, IA. Kristin was born on March 21, 1956 in Clinton, Iowa. She graduated from Regis High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa where she earned a degree in Special Education and Early Childhood Development. While at UNI she was a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She taught Special Education in Storm Lake and Newton, Iowa. After she retired from teaching Kris was the Parks & Recreation Director in West Des Moines, Iowa and Centerville, Iowa.
Kris enjoyed spending time with her Carin Terrier, Missy, who was her pride and joy. She also followed the Chicago Cubs, the Iowa Hawkeyes and celebrated the spirit of Christmas year round.
Survivors include her parents, Jack and Pat Carstensen, siblings John (Mary) Carstensen, Kelly (Robert) Trachta, Karlen (Thomas) Howard, Leslie (Brian) Anderson, Sarah (Jerome) Kramer and Kyle Carstensen. She is also survived by thirteen nieces and nephews Peter and Lura Carstensen, Tricia, Megan and Briana Gavin, Ryan, Chad and Allie Howard, Braden, Kirsten and Jack Anderson, Maximilian and Cecilia Kramer, several uncles, an aunt and a great nephew Ethan Boll.
Preceding Kris in death is her niece Kira Carstensen, her grandparents, Beatrice and Leon Cavanaugh and Detlef and Olivia Carstensen, several aunts and an uncle.
Kristin struggled with a lifelong battle of Type 1 Diabetes. The family would like to extend gratitude to the many doctors who cared for her. In particular Dr. Thomas McIntosh, Cedar Rapids, Dr. Saket Girotra and Dr. M.G. Abernathy from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Dr. Mark Hogenson from the Lisbon Rehabilitation Center.
Services will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at St. Matthew Catholic Church at 10:30am and the visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 from 4pm to 7pm at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. The Reverend Steve Garner will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mercy Hospice, Cedar Rapids, Iowa or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 1026 A Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.