Bruce Edward Carstens

Bruce Carstens of Peotone, Illinois was born on July 24, 1951, in Kankakee, Illinois and passed surrounded with family and friends on Friday, June 13, 2025, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee at the age of 73.

Bruce was the son of Howard (Tuffy) and Mary (Ebsen) Carstens. Bruce is survived by his sister, Debbie (Carstens) Werner (Don Jr.) of Manhattan; nephews, Brad (Nina) Werner of Downers Grove; Jeremy (Tiffany) Werner of Peotone; Great uncle to Torin, Lilly, Lucas and Isla Werner; Loving cousin to Ralph (Cheryl) Zaffino of Canton, GA; Ray (Joyce) Zaffino of Shorewood, IL; Patty (Bill) Catanese of Houston, TX; Phyllis (Neal) Pleckham of Sycamore, IL; Mel (Marlene) Ebsen of Rocky Mt., Missouri; and Liz Ebsen of Denver, CO. Bruce is also survived by many of his cousins’ kids (great cousins) and their children (great-great cousins) whom he loved very much and was an “uncle” to them as well; special friends, Kevin and Jake Nietfeldt, Linda Barten, Kathy Shanahan, Jerry Olson and Ed and Tracy Nelson. Bruce was preceded in death by his parents in 2000 (dad) and 2006 (mom) and an older sister at birth and numerous aunts and uncles.

Bruce graduated from Peotone High School with the Class of 1969; attended ISU, graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education. He worked his entire work career as an accountant (44 ½ years) for General Mills/Henkel/Cognis/BASF in Kankakee retiring in January 2018.

Bruce was an avid flower gardener, avid Chicago Cubs fan, and avid bingo player sometimes attending 5-6 days a week during retirement. He also loved to “play the horses” and going to the Racetrack and watch the horses run. He travelled many years, several times a year, to Las Vegas for his vacations and more recently in the past 5 years with his sister and friends to Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. Bruce served on the Board of Directors for Tractors for a Cure and volunteered for many programs held through the Peotone American Legion and Peotone American Legion Auxiliary. Bruce played the Grinch for Peotone’s Christmas in the Village for many years riding on his golf cart in the parade right before Santa’s float, something he loved to do. Bruce was a history buff on the history of Peotone and a part of the history of Peotone will now be lost as Bruce had a great memory of events and people that lived in Peotone over his 73 years. Bruce was a part of the “McDonalds” breakfast crew since his retirement in 2018 where they met almost every morning.

Memorials can be made to: St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Peotone Helping Hands, Adopt a Soldier or to the family to pass on to other charities in the Peotone community.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Fedde-Helfrich-Cross Funeral Home in Peotone, Illinois. He will be buried next to his parents at the Peotone Cemetery. Wake will be held from 3-8 pm at the funeral home on Thursday, June 19th with funeral services on Friday, June 20th at 10 am. Funeral luncheon will be held at the Peotone American Legion Post Hall following committal at the cemetery. Bruce did ask that everyone dress casual for his services so please no suits or ties are needed.

Share a memory at www.feddehelfrichcrossfh.com