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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Dr. Gary Wayne Carstens of East Alton,
4 who passed away on August 4, 2008; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Dr. Gary Carstens was born June 2, 1943 in Alton;
6 he was the son of the late Damon and Ann (Mihalich) Carstens;
7 he married Sue (Chester) Carstens on July 22, 1961 in Wood
8 River; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Dr. Gary Carstens was raised in Wood River,
10 graduating from Wood River High School in 1961; he was employed
11 with McDonnell Douglas Aircraft and Avco Aerostructures as a
12 journeyman electrician and a numerical control agent and
13 machine tool specialist for eight years; and
 
14     WHEREAS, In 1968, Dr. Gary Carstens graduated from the FWB
15 Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee, receiving his
16 bachelor's degree in pastoral theology; in 1976, he received
17 his doctoral degree in theology; after graduating, he pastored
18 his first church in Denver, Colorado, later serving as pastor
19 in Elgin; he also served as Associate Pastor at the Bethel Free
20 Will Baptist Church in South Roxana; in 1974, Dr. Carstens
21 founded the New Testament Fellowship in Alton, serving as
22 senior pastor for 32 years until his semi-retirement in 2002;

 

 

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1 following his retirement, he started a successful home-based
2 travel business; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Dr. Gary Carstens was a devout fan of the St.
4 Louis Cardinals and was an avid reader; he also loved traveling
5 and spending time in Florida, walking the beaches with his wife
6 and family; he attained his own professional broadcasting
7 license and enjoyed amateur radio operating; he also wrote many
8 seminars and a book on ministerial ethics; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Dr. Gary Carstens was preceded in death by his
10 parents; his beloved father-in-law, Harry Ray Chester; and his
11 daughter, Mary Anna; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Dr. Gary Carstens is survived by his wife; his
13 three sons and two daughters-in-law, Rev. Daren W. Carstens and
14 his wife, Laura (Allen) Carstens, Christopher S. Carstens and
15 his wife, Mari Beth (McCarthy) Carstens, and Brian P. Carstens;
16 his beloved mother-in-law, Mary Grace (Bennet) Chester; his
17 sisters and brother-in-law, Raydine (Chester) Alexander and
18 her husband, Bill, and Kym (Chester) Brown; his grandchildren,
19 Tiffany, Cami, Amanda, Adam, Abigail, Joel, Tyler, Cassidy,
20 Brendan, Colton, Amber, and Ashley; and his great-grandsons,
21 Malaki and Xaden; and
 
22     WHEREAS, Dr. Gary Carstens will be remembered by all who

 

 

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1 knew and loved him as a compassionate and loving husband and
2 father who was dedicated to the passionate pursuit of The Lord
3 and His ministry; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
5 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
6 his family and friends, the passing of Dr. Gary Wayne Carstens;
7 and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9 presented to the family of Dr. Gary Wayne Carstens as an
10 expression of our sympathy.