Gary W. Carstens, 82, of Cedar Rapids, passed away unexpectedly at his home Wednesday morning, January 13, 2021.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 1 to 3 P.M. Tuesday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2 ^nd Street S.E.  All attending Gary's visitation are respectfully requested to wear masks and practice social distancing.

Gary is survived by his wife, Debbie; children, Grant Carstens and fiancée Kayla Stewart, Cedar Rapids, Angela Carstens Achenbach and John Hackenmiller, Mount Vernon and Adriane Carstens Gordon and John Gordon, Vinton; grandchildren, Scarlette, Ann, Xavier, A.J., Josey and Brody; and a sister, Marilyn LeClere, Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Alexandria "Alex" and his parents, Walther and Wilma (Ruhl) Carstens.

Gary was born January 30, 1938 in Long Prairie, Minnesota and moved with his family to Lisbon where he graduated from High School.  At the age of 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1961.  Gary had been employed as a policeman in Los Angeles, California for several years and then returned to Iowa.  He lived in Iowa City and then moved to Cedar Rapids.

Gary married Deborah K. Kimbro on February 22, 1990 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He was employed as a computer technician in the Information Services department at Mercy Medical Center until his retirement in 2000.

A memorial fund has been established.