Obituary of Belva Lucille Kersten

Belva Lucille Kersten, age 95, of Wisconsin Rapids, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at Wisconsin Rapids Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Rev. John Grohs and Rev. Timothy Ritter will officiate. Burial will be at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Monday and at the church from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services on Tuesday. Belva came into this world on February 23, 1919 at the family home in Medford, Wisconsin, the only daughter of Chester and Matilda (Schuenemann) Ziegel. At the age of 4, the family moved to Tigerton, Wisconsin, where Belva spent her formative years. Their house had no running water and was heated by woodstoves. She met her future husband, DeForest Kersten, at age 13 when he invited her to a New Year's Eve party. During her high school years Belva was an excellent student, drum majorette and prom queen. She stated, with a twinkle in her eye, that she attended four proms during her senior year, one with DeForest and three others with "good friends". She graduated from Tigerton High School in 1937 and after seven years of dating, married DeForest "Bud" Kersten on November 2, 1940. Their marriage was to last over 50 years until DeForest's death in 1991. After DeForest spent nine months teaching in Leavenworth, Kansas, he took a job in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin where Belva and he started what was to be a long and happy time together. They lived in Wisconsin Rapids until moving to Detroit, MI in 1949. In 1954, the family returned to Wisconsin Rapids, where DeForest became principal of Immanuel Lutheran School and they moved into the Oak Street home. Belva was a stay at home mother of four children and she lived in the home until entering assisted living at age 90. Her mother Matilda also lived in the home for 32 years. Belva lived a life of service to others, starting with her family, and extending to volunteering in many activities at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School including the Ladies Aid, Evening Guild, the Orphan Grain Train and working at the Saver's Store well into her 80's. Her God and her faith were very important to her. Belva is preceded in death by her husband, DeForest, her parents Chester and Matilda, her brother Clarence Ziegel, and her son-in-law, Al Norman. She is survived by her son David Kersten, his wife Reata and their daughter's families Matt and Nicole Lavold and their children Drew and Mason, Jeremy and Krista Potter and their children Avery and Isabelle; her daughter Deneen Norman and Deneen's son's families Bret and Stacy Norman and their children Alan, Ella and Teddy, Troy and Lisa Norman and their daughter Tessa; her son Doug Kersten and his wife Patti and their children's families, Sam and Caitlin Blue and Jordan Kersten and his significant other Elsa Moluf; and her son Brian Kersten and his wife Julie Tans-Kersten and their children Marjorie and Nathan. The Kersten family would also like to acknowledge long time friend of Belva and the family, Ann Smekrud, for her many years of support to Belva. Belva's smile to all she met with her gentle, persistent spirit will be missed by all of us but we know she is finally with her Lord, her husband and her many ancestors in Heaven. Thank you to the caring people that have helped Mom at the Renaissance, Wisconsin Rapids Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and especially Ministry Home Care Hospice. Memorials may be designated to the Kersten Tuition Fund at Immanuel Lutheran School in Wisconsin Rapids. Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net