Shirley I. Kersten

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Shirley Ilene Kersten, age 89, of Logan, Iowa passed away Saturday July 8, 2017 at the Select Specialty Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. Shirley was born February 22, 1928 in Woodbine, Iowa to Joseph and Clara (Peterson) Stewart. She attended Windy Ridge Country School, High School in Magnolia for two years, Logan Normal School for two years and graduated in 1945. Shirley taught school at Calhoun Country School for two years and Mondamin for two years. Shirley married Charles Kersten on July 13, 1949. Together they farmed their home place for sixty years. There they raised four sons, Kent, Kirk, K.C., and Kevin. Shirley was active at St. Anne’s Church in Logan. She enjoyed her neighbor’s clubs, and loved fishing and her many trips to Canada with her family. If you stopped to see Shirley for a visit you should be ready for a cup of coffee and something to eat especially her chocolate cupcakes. Charles passed away March 11, 2010. She loved watching her sons coach wrestling and her grandkids sports and school activities.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charles, siblings, Helena Reardon Oliver, Marcella Stewart, Robert Stewart, Frances Geith.

Survivors include her sons: Kent Kersten and wife Sandy; Kirk Kersten and wife Mary, K.C. Kersten and wife Cheri all of Logan, Iowa; Kevin Kersten of Audubon, Iowa; grandchildren: Angie Boyce and husband Tony of North Loup, Nebraska; Lanae Chase and husband Matt; Kim Kuhl and husband Jeff, Kelli Gaukel and husband Michael, Kara Graber and husband Kyle all of Logan, Iowa; Klint Kersten and fiancée Catherine Carter of Logan, Iowa, Kody Kersten and wife Laura of Green Cove Springs, Florida, Kolton Kersten of Fremont, Nebraska, Sammi Kersten and fiancée John Thiele of Logan, Iowa; great-grandchildren: Kaden, Brendan, Mia Boyce, Colben and Campbell Chase, Kalab, Kash, Kane Kuhl, Levi and Silas Gaukel, Esaias Graber, Kali Kersten, sister: Betty Barry of Missouri Valley, Iowa; sister-in-law: Donna Sorenson of Onawa, Iowa.

A Prayer Service will be held at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday with visitation to follow until 8:00 p.m. at the Logan Memorial Chapel in Logan, Iowa.

The family would like to invite everyone to a time of lunch and fellowship at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Logan following the committal service.

In Loving Memory Of

Shirley Ilene Kersten

Born

February 22, 1928                                                 Woodbine, Iowa

Entered Into Rest

July 8, 2017                                                       Omaha, Nebraska

Mass of Christian Burial

10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 13, 2017

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church

Missouri Valley, Iowa

Celebrants                              Father Raphael Masabakhwa

Father Wayne Gubbels

Organist                                                            Lyle Waterhouse

Vocalist          Mason Loftus                                       “Ave Maria”

Vocalist         Rick Powell           “Love Me”          “Thank You”

Taped Selection                                                                  “IOU”

Honorary Bearers

Nieces and Nephews

Casket Bearers

Klint Kersten                                                                Tony Boyce

Kody Kersten                                                               Matt Chase

Kolton Kersten                                                                   Jeff Kuhl

John Thiele                                                           Michael Gaukel

Kyle Graber

Final Resting Place

St. Bridget’s Catholic Cemetery – Magnolia, Iowa

The Last Time

If I knew It would be the last time that I’d see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly around and pray the Lord your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time I’d see you walk out of the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I’d hear your voice lifted in

praise, I would videotape each action and word so I could play it back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time I could spare an extra minute or two, I’d stop and say, “I love you,” instead of assuming “you know I do”

If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day… well I’m sure you’ll have many more, so I’ll just let this one slip away.

For surely there’s always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, always a second chance to make everything right. There will always be another day to say our “I love you’s, and certainly another chance to say our “Anything I can do’s.”

But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I’d like to say how much I love you and hope that we never forget that…

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old. And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved ones tight.

So if you’re waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you’ll surely regret the day…

That you didn’t take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or kiss.

And you were too busy to grant someone what turned out to be their last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear, tell them how much you love them, and that you’ll always hold them dear.