Verna Carstens
Funeral services for Verna Fredda Asmus Brady Carstens were held Saturday, November 15, 1997, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran church, Manilla, Iowa. Pastor Timothy Geitz officiated the service with Marian Joens as organist. Interment was held in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Manning, Iowa, with Roland Huebner, Art Joens, Elmer Lorenzen, Mark Segebart, Emmett Mullen and Sammy Musfeldt as casketbearers.
Verna, daughter of John William and Martha Mary (Wenzel) Asmus, was born April 1, 1912, on a farm near Manilla, Iowa. She attended country school near Manilla and graduated from Manning High School with the Class of 1930. Verna then worked as a seamstress and salesperson for Rober-Wehrmann Department Store and Paulsen's. She did seamstress work out of her home for neighbors and friends.
On September 14, 1941, Verna married Donald Joseph Brady who was on leave from the United States Army. Donald then served in the south Pacific being honorably discharged in November 1945. He returned to Manning where he began to work for the railroad. In 1947, they moved to Coon Rapids, and in 1957, moved back to Manning. Verna then worked with her sister, Marie Brady, at the Golden Rule Clothing Store. Due to Donald's failing health, they both retired in 1973. Donald died October 12, 1974.
On September 5, 1977, Verna was united in marriage to Albert "Kit" Carstens. Verna and Kit made their home in Manilla. Kit died on May 33, 1996, at Manning General Hospital.
On November 13, 1997, Verna died suddenly and unexpectedly at Manning Regional Healthcare Center. She reached the age of 85 years, 7 months and 12 days.
Verna was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla where she enjoyed singing in the choir and working with braille. She enjoyed having fun and joking around with friends.
Besides her parents and two. husbands, Verna was preceded in death by three sisters: Lydia Musfeldt, Helen Smith and Marie Brady; a brother, Merlin "Buddy" Asmus; and three half sisters: Pauline Jorgensen, Amanda Ewoldt and Ann Boyens.
She is survived by a sister Alma "Tootie" Vollmer, of Manning; a stepson, Jerry Carstens and his wife, Pat, of Manilla; three sisters-in-law: Lucille Carstens of Manilla, Ruth Hiatt of Manning, and Alice Buckles of Brea, California; and by several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.