Bruce Edward Carstens, of Peotone, was born on July 24, 1951, in Kankakee, and passed surrounded by 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. He graduated from Peotone High School with the Class of 1969, attended ISU, graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education, and worked his entire 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, Chicago Cubs fan, and bingo player, sometimes attending five-to-six days a week during retirement. He also loved to “play the horses,” going to the racetrack, and watching the horses run. He traveled many years, going several times a year to Las Vegas for his vacations and, more recently, in the past five years with his sister and friends to Ft. Myers Beach, Florida.
Bruce served on the Tractors for a Cure Board of Directors and volunteered for many programs held through the Peotone American Legion and Peotone American Legion Auxiliary. He portrayed 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. It was something he loved to do. Bruce was a history buff, especially about Peotone, and a part of the history of Peotone now will be lost, as Bruce had a great memory of events and people who lived in Peotone during his 73 years. Bruce also was a part of the “McDonalds” breakfast crew, since his retirement in 2018, where the group met almost every morning.
He is survived by his sister, Debbie (Don Jr.) Werner of Manhattan; nephews, Brad (Nina) Werner of Downers Grove and Jeremy (Tiffany) Werner of Peotone; was a great uncle to Torin, Lilly, Lucas, and Isla Werner; loving cousin to Ralph (Cheryl) Zaffino of Canton, Georgia, Ray (Joyce) Zaffino of Shorewood, Patty (Bill) Catanese of Houston, Texas, Phyllis (Neal) Pleckham of Sycamore, Mel (Marlene) Ebsen of Rocky Mount, Missouri, and Liz Ebsen of Denver, Colorado. Bruce also is 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 dad in 2000 and his mom in 2006, an older sister at birth, plus numerous aunts and uncles.
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. A visitation will be held from 3-8 p.m., at the funeral home, on Thursday, June 19, with funeral services on Friday, June 20, at 10 a.m. He will be laid to rest next to his parents at Peotone Cemetery. A 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.