Vernon L. Karstens
October 8, 1921 — January 9, 2016
Vernon Ludwig Karstens was born on October 8, 1921 at 936 Frost Avenue in Avoca, Iowa to Ludwig Johann Karstens and Alvina Christina (Burmeister) Karstens. On December 17, 1921, Vernon was baptized in the First German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Avoca. The church name was changed to the First Lutheran Church by the time he was confirmed on April 18, 1935.
In March of 1925, his parents bought the farm at 26776 Highway 59, which is 5 miles south of Avoca. Vernon attended Valley Township School #2 and received a state award for scoring high on the 8th grade exam. He attended Avoca High School through the 9th grade, then quit school to help his father on the farm. He also worked for a neighbor on his farm.
Vernon Karstens enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 25, 1942 at Omaha, Nebraska and was discharged on October 13, 1945 at San Bernardino, California, having attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. During World War II, he was stationed in Saipan and flew 35 missions over Japan, navigating their B-29 airplane, A Square 54. His foreign service began on Jan. 27, 1945 and ended on Oct. 5, 1945. He received a number of medals and citations, two of which are the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters and an Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars.
He joined the American Legion Post 227 at Avoca in 1945 and the VFW Post 4279 at Avoca on Feb. 13, 1946 and served as Quartermaster for many years. He was a life member of both organizations.
Vernon met Jeraldine "Jerry" Nora Glissmann in Long Beach, California. They married on December 12, 1945 at her parents' home south of Walnut. Three children were born to this union: Karen Diane, Ronald Dean and Donald Dale.
Vernon was a very successful and progressive farmer, raised Purebred Herefords and sold seed. He was a 4-H leader and the family was the WOW-TV Farm Family of the Week in 1966. Reading, polka dancing, playing cards, camping, and fishing were favorite activities. Throughout his life, Vernon was an active member of the Lutheran Church at Avoca.
The Karstens family farm was home for Vernon and Jerry for over sixty-three years. They moved to the Avoca Lodge Assisted Living in May, 2009. Jeraldine passed away at the Avoca Nursing Home and Rehab Center on February 2, 2010. Vernon moved into the same facility, on September 19, 2014, and passed away on January 9,2016, having attained the age of ninety-four years, three months and one day.
Vernon was preceded in death by his wife, of sixty-four years, Jeraldine; his parents; son Donald and his wife, Debra; an infant sister; sister, June, and her husband, Robert Bell; and brother-in-law, Laurence Abendroth. He is survived by his daughter, Karen, and her husband James Hansen, of Walnut, Iowa; his son, Ronald Karstens, and his wife, RoseMarie of Woodbury, Minnesota; five grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; his brother, Leonard Karstens, and his wife, Barbara, of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska; his sister, Ruth Abendroth, of Fountain Valley, California; many other family members and friends.
In March of 1925, his parents bought the farm at 26776 Highway 59, which is 5 miles south of Avoca. Vernon attended Valley Township School #2 and received a state award for scoring high on the 8th grade exam. He attended Avoca High School through the 9th grade, then quit school to help his father on the farm. He also worked for a neighbor on his farm.
Vernon Karstens enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 25, 1942 at Omaha, Nebraska and was discharged on October 13, 1945 at San Bernardino, California, having attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. During World War II, he was stationed in Saipan and flew 35 missions over Japan, navigating their B-29 airplane, A Square 54. His foreign service began on Jan. 27, 1945 and ended on Oct. 5, 1945. He received a number of medals and citations, two of which are the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters and an Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with 3 Battle Stars.
He joined the American Legion Post 227 at Avoca in 1945 and the VFW Post 4279 at Avoca on Feb. 13, 1946 and served as Quartermaster for many years. He was a life member of both organizations.
Vernon met Jeraldine "Jerry" Nora Glissmann in Long Beach, California. They married on December 12, 1945 at her parents' home south of Walnut. Three children were born to this union: Karen Diane, Ronald Dean and Donald Dale.
Vernon was a very successful and progressive farmer, raised Purebred Herefords and sold seed. He was a 4-H leader and the family was the WOW-TV Farm Family of the Week in 1966. Reading, polka dancing, playing cards, camping, and fishing were favorite activities. Throughout his life, Vernon was an active member of the Lutheran Church at Avoca.
The Karstens family farm was home for Vernon and Jerry for over sixty-three years. They moved to the Avoca Lodge Assisted Living in May, 2009. Jeraldine passed away at the Avoca Nursing Home and Rehab Center on February 2, 2010. Vernon moved into the same facility, on September 19, 2014, and passed away on January 9,2016, having attained the age of ninety-four years, three months and one day.
Vernon was preceded in death by his wife, of sixty-four years, Jeraldine; his parents; son Donald and his wife, Debra; an infant sister; sister, June, and her husband, Robert Bell; and brother-in-law, Laurence Abendroth. He is survived by his daughter, Karen, and her husband James Hansen, of Walnut, Iowa; his son, Ronald Karstens, and his wife, RoseMarie of Woodbury, Minnesota; five grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; his brother, Leonard Karstens, and his wife, Barbara, of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska; his sister, Ruth Abendroth, of Fountain Valley, California; many other family members and friends.
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