A memorial Mass for Gregory Joseph Carstens, 61, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 27, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Long Grove. Visitation will be Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at the church. A luncheon will be held following Mass at the church.
Mr. Carstens died Wednesday, July 18, 2018, in San Diego, Calif.
Gregory Carstens was born Aug. 30, 1956, in Davenport, the son of June (Blumer) and Gene Carstens. He graduated from North Scott High School in 1975.
He married Deb Haack in 1977.
He began his career at Ramble Ridge Stables in Davenport, working under the guidance of his father, Gene, as well as working for Parker Distributing in Bettendorf. He moved to Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1987, where he pursued his dream of training horses. In California, he worked for Seamair Farms and became a well-known horse trainer. He traveled to competitions all over the country and won many awards and accolades as a top horse trainer.
His hobbies were gardening, watching the sunrise and sunset, spending time with his family, and his horses.
Survivors include a daughter, Kristen (Ryan) Lunceford; a son, Austin (Kristen) Carstens; four grandchildren, Landon, Evan and Selah Lunceford, and Mason Carstens; his fiancée, Joan Richardson; her daughter, Katie (Henry) Ball; his sisters, Lynn Kroeger, Deb (Bernie) Heidgerken, and Tina (Dean) Ganzer; his brothers, Gene (Sharon) Carstens, Ron Carstens, Tim (Barb) Carstens, Dave (LuAnn) Carstens, and Matthew (Michelle) Carstens.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gene and June Carstens; a brother, Kevin Carstens; a sister-in-law, Noreen Carstens; and a brother-in-law, Kevin Kroeger.
Memorials may be made to the family.