John Carlsten

VISITAITON

10-11 a.m., Saturday, May 19 at Faith Lutheran Church, 733 Woodward Ave., Chippewa Falls

SERVICE

11 a.m., Saturday, May 19 at Faith Lutheran Church, 733 Woodward Ave., Chippewa Falls

John M. Carlsten, 84, of Chippewa Falls, village of Lake Hallie, died Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at his home.

He was born April 19, 1928 in Minot, North Dakota to Marrie (Meyrie) and John Carlsten. As a young man, he drove semi-truck for Oppen's and Herda Enterprises. He was one of the first civilian truck drivers to cross the Alaskan Highway that was finished in 1946. He was just 18 years old.

In 1949, he married Vyonne Baehm in Minot and that same year, started working in the coal power plant for Northern States Power.

John was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1952 and served during the Korean Conflict. He spent two years in France, building bridges and instructing crews.

In 1954, he returned to ND and worked again for NSP. He was transferred to Eau Claire 1973 to the Wheaton Generating Plant, where he was an operator until his retirement in 1988.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Vyonne of Hallie; a son, John Jeffrey (Brenda) Carlsten of Chippewa Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Stanley Carlsten; sisters, Ida, Mabel, Palma and an infant sister, Ida.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 19 at Faith Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls with the Rev. William Plautz, officiating. Interment with military honors provided by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council will be in Prairie View Cemetery, village of Lake Hallie.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.

AFTERSERVICE:

A funeral service for John M. Carlsten, 84, of Chippewa Falls, village of Lake Hallie, was held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 19 at Faith Lutheran Church in Chippewa Falls. The Rev. William Plautz officiated and music was provided by organist, Barbara Sandford. Interment was in Prairie View Cemetery, village of Lake Hallie and casket bearers included: Jeff Carlsten, Don Soyring,Dan Wood, Maynard Hopkins, Paul Rederer and John Freedy. Military honors were given by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council and Cassie Webber bugled "Taps."