Sandra Kay Carstensen

Sandra Kay Carstensen, known lovingly as Sandi, Mom, and Nanny, passed away on November 11, 2026, in Clinton, Iowa, after a hard fought battle with breast cancer. Through it all, she carried the same strength and grace that defined her entire life. 

Sandra was born on December 22, 1941, in Clinton, Iowa, to Harold Still and Marian Obermiller Still. She graduated from Clinton High School in 1960 and went on to complete several college and professional courses over the years, always eager to learn and grow. On June 2, 1995, she married the love of her life, Dennis Eugene Carstensen, in Nashua, Iowa, beginning a partnership filled with shared adventures, including the camping trips they both treasured. 

For 18 years, Sandra served as an executive secretary for Clinton County Emergency Management Services, a role she performed with dedication and care. In her younger years she was a member of the Rainbow Girls and later the Eastern Star, early chapters in what would become a lifelong devotion to serving others. 

Sandra's heart for giving was matched only by her remarkable creativity. She was blessed with countless artistic talents, including ceramics, basket weaving, quilting, and crocheting. She ran the Prairie Rose Boutique in Rollag, Minnesota, during the annual steam show, and she shared her gifts through many groups close to her heart, among them the Lambs Loom, which created knitting projects for those in need, the Mississippi Valley Quilt Guild, the Cedar County Quilt Guild, and Basket Works. 

Perhaps nothing captured Sandra's generous spirit more than the way she supported her son in law, Jim Hevel, during his deployment as a battalion commander in Baghdad in 2003. She lovingly sewed pillowcases and Christmas stockings for every military member in his unit, and she crafted 42 newborn quilts for the babies born during that deployment year. Her tireless commitment led her to serve as National Coordinator for Home of the Brave Quilts, bringing comfort to families who had given so much. 

Above all, Sandra loved her family. She found joy in her crafts, in cooking, and in camping alongside Dennis. She had a deep fondness for the Colorado mountains, and her favorite song to listen to was "Rocky Mountain High" by John Denver. 

Sandra is survived by her devoted husband, Dennis Eugene Carstensen; her children, Deborah (Jim) Hevel, John (Regina) Melvin, Jason (Kelly) Roberts, and Terah Roberts; her seven cherished grandchildren; and her seven beloved great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold Still and Marian Obermiller Still. 

A woman of Christian faith, Sandra lived out her beliefs through the kindness she showed and the countless hands she helped. Those who knew her will remember her as someone who gave freely of her time, her talents, and her love. We find comfort in trusting that she now rests in the loving arms of her Lord, her work on earth complete and her legacy of compassion living on in all who were touched by her. 

Mom, you are so loved.