Carl Deisting

Carl C. Diesting, age 86, of Willmar, died Friday evening, October 28, at Glen Oaks Care Center in New London.


Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday November 2, at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar. Interment will be at Ebenezer Lutheran Cemetery in Kandiyohi. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer's Association.


Carl Clarance Deisting was born October 23, 1930, in Hamel, Minnesota, the son of Christoff and Bertha (Tessmer) Deisting.  He was baptized November 16, 1930 and confirmed April 2, 1944 at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Greenfield Village, near Hanover, Minnesota.


Carl graduated from Wayzata High School and attended Gale Institute in Minneapolis.  He started working for the Great Northern Railroad in May of 1949 as a telegrapher.  He worked 43 years in various positions through several railroad mergers, retiring on November 1, 1991.


On February 18, 1951, Carl married Jean Miller in Atwater, Minnesota.  They had two children, Daryl and Peggy.  Jean died in 2001.  On June 15, 2002, Carl married Betty Thrush.


Carl was an original member promoting the Willmar Community College.  He was a former member of the Willmar City Charter Commission, the Willmar Municipal Utilities Commission, the Willmar City Council (1965-1972) and the DFL Executive Committee.  He was a long-time member of Vinje Lutheran Church, where he served on the Brotherhood Board, ushers committee, Befrienders Ministry, and as Vice President of the congregation for one term.  He was also a member of the Great Northern Goats and Great Northern Veterans.


Carl enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, playing cards and square dancing.  He was very considerate of others and always looked for the positive characteristics in people.  He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.  He also earned the reputation of being able to fix everything.


He is survived by his wife, Betty; his children, Daryl (and Karen) Deisting of Kandiyohi and Peggy (and Charles) Oakes of Willmar; four grandchildren, Matt Oakes of Montevideo, Dan (and Megan) Deisting of Kandiyohi, Jasmine Oakes of Willmar and Jenny Oakes of Willmar; three great-grandchildren, Isabelle Perry, Malayna Perry and Nash Deisting; a brother, Robert (and Dollie) Deisting of Eagan; and a sister-in-law, Phyllis Deisting of Buffalo.  Also surviving are Betty's children, Grayson Thrush of Castle Rock, CO and Nanette Thrush of Vancouver, WA; Betty's grandchildren, Robin Thrush and Wren Thrush; and other relatives and friends.


Carl was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Jean; four brothers, Walter, Albert and two in infancy; two sisters, Leona Klatt and Elaine Klatt; and a granddaughter, Katelyn Deisting.

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