Obituary of Louis Carstensen

Louis Henry Carstensen was born October 12, 1916 to Chris and Irene (Voss) Carstensen in Minneota Township in Jackson County, Minnesota and passed away at Lakes Regional Hospital in Spirit Lake on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at the age of 93 years and 14 days. Louie started school in Jackson County at Sioux Valley School on Sept. 1, 1921 and graduated from high school there in 1934. Louie worked for his dad on the farm until 1936. He met Elva Allen at a dance at the Fox Lake Ballroom and was married on November 20, 1939. To this union three sons were born, Orrin in 1940, Keith in 1943 and Rodger in 1946. Louis saw his sons all precede him in death. Louis was a life long member of the Lutheran Church, most of which were at Concordia in Lake Park. Louie loved life and we all loved him. He had a way of enjoying life even after his boys died. He always had a high five for all kids and had the time to talk to everyone. He truly was the patriarch of his family. Louie worked along with his family in the family locker plant in Lake Park. Louie operated a locker plant for 37 years beginning in 1940 in Harris, IA. In November 1957 he and his wife Elva opened a new plant in Lake Park, Iowa. In 1977 he sold the business to son Orrin and his wife Sheryl. Louis was always proud to say he was a business man from Main Street in Lake Park. As owner/operator Louie began competing in Iowa Meat Processor's ham and bacon competitions winning his first award in 1953. When he retired he had acquired 20 plus awards. In 1972, he won the Governor's Cup for having the most outstanding ham in the State of Iowa. He also won 16 national awards from 1961 to 1972. In 1995 Louie was inducted into the AAMP Cured Meats Hall of Fame. Louis was the only person from Iowa who has received this distinctive recognition. Louie joked that the "secret ingredient" for winning so many prizes was the fact that while he worked, he always chewed on an unlit cigar. You knew he was aggravated when he lit his cigar, but luckily this was not often. Louis was also a 50 year member of the Lions Club in Lake Park and then in Hartley. It was such an honor for him to receive his 50 year pin from the Lions Club and he wore it daily. Louie was preceded in death by his wife Elva in 1996, Orrin in 1983, Keith in 2003 and Rodger in 2003; his brother Ray and wife Viola; his sister Geraldine and husband Ben Weber; his sister Adeline and husband Arnold Bell and his brother Donald Carstensen. Left to mourn his passing are his daughter-in-law Sheryl Peters and her husband Ron of Sibley, IA; daughter-in-law Beverly Carstensen of Spencer, IA; grandchildren, Matt (Karla) Carstensen of Spencer, Chris (Brenda) Carstensen of Fairmont, MN, Leah (Damon) Hintz of Spencer and Carmen (Jimmy) Sorensen of Griswold, IA; great-grandchildren, Jillian Carstensen, Andrea & Adam Carstensen, William Baily & Dawson Carstensen, Kyuss & Miles Hintz and Paris Sorensen; great-great-grandson, Hunter Carstensen; sister-in-law, LaVerle Carstensen of Lakefield, MN. Louis always said "So Long" because good-bye is too final. Today is "Good Bye, Louie".