Donald T. Kersten

Donald T. Kersten, 96, of Granger, Indiana, passed away at 1:35am on November 11, 2017 in Village Arborwood, Granger.  On July 5, 1921, he was born in Rochester, Minnesota to the late Charles and Bertha (Witt) Kersten and has lived in South Bend since 1957.

In 1947, Donald married Elaine Gumz in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He later married Kathleen (Bashore) Gilbert in 1979 in Mishawaka, who preceded him in death in 1993.  While attending a Widow to Widowers support group at Sunnyside Presbyterian Church, he met Barbara “Babs” Hartman and was married June 18, 1994.

Donald graduated as a chemical engineer from the University of Minnesota.  Shortly after graduation, he served our country for two years in the U.S. Navy during World War II as an electronic engineer.  He was honorably discharged on June 9, 1946.  He worked for various companies in research and development.  The last twenty-seven years were spent with Uniroyal Corporation of Mishawaka, retiring in August of 1983.  He was a member of American Chemical Society for over sixty years, the American Legion, and the Moose Club of Elkhart, Indiana.  Donald volunteered for Meals on Wheels for five years and at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center of Mishawaka for sixteen years.

Donald is survived by his wife of twenty-four years, Barbara “Babs’ Kersten, Granger; two sons, Glenn (Nancy) Kersten, Matteson, Illinois and Mark (Marleen) Kersten, Bull Valley, Illinois; his step-son, Jim Hartman, Las Vegas, Nevada; step-daughter, Karen Schwenk, South Bend; two grandchildren, Elisa and Matthias Kersten; four step-grandchildren, Alisa Hayes, Fishers; Ryan (Naoka) Schwenk, Japan; Brandon Schwenk, Indianapolis; three step-great grandchildren Kaleia, Alexis, and Allyson; and Dustin Hartman, Mishawaka; and his brother, Richard Kersten, Rochester, Minnesota.  He was also preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, Edward and Gordon Kersten.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Palmer Funeral Home—River Park Chapel, 2528 Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend. Pastor Neil Hampton will officiate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

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