Elwin Mortensen on August 10th 1925 to Carl Otto and Maren Kristine (Ditlefsen) Mortensen in
Warren Minnesota. He was the youngest of 10 children in the family. At the age of 3 months his
mother Maren Kristine died following a routine surgery and at the age of 3 years old his father
Carl Otto died of pleurisy. It was at this time that his mother’s sister, Anna (Ditlefsen) and
husband Rasmus Karstensen adopted and raised him.
At the age of 17 he joined the Army Air Corps to fight in WWII. He was stationed in Italy with the
451st Bomb Group where he completed his 32 combat missions as a nose gunner in a B-24
Bomber. During that time he was awarded the purple heart. In 1978 he and 3 former members
of the 451st bomb group got together and began their next mission, to reunite as many 451st
members as they could find and hold a reunion. Bob dedicated close to the next 30 years of his
life in finding members and organizing reunions. He proudly held the position of president of the
group, until passing the torch on.
After the war he returned to Marengo Il. where he began employment as a house painter and
eventually starting his own painting business, which he continued for 45 years. In 1954 he
married Patricia Atherton and they had 2 children, Ann and Robert jr. Bob loved to hunt and fish
with his family, children and friends. Much of that time was spent reminiscing and telling stories
about his growing up during the depression and about his brothers, sisters, nieces and
nephews. He was so proud of all of them. (Both of Bob’s maternal and adopted parents were
immigrants from Denmark and he was very proud of his heritage and displayed that to his
children).
Bob was survived by his children Ann Karstensen (partner Tony Schritz) and Robert M.
Karstensen Jr (wife Lori (Hensel)), grandchildren Adam, Alex and Nathan Karstensen along with
many loving nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his birth parents Carl Otto and Maren Kristine Mortensen, his
adoptive parents Rasmus and Anna Karstensen, and his siblings Agnes, Carl, Allan, Victor.
Florence, Arlene, Gladys, Dorothy and Mary Marcine.
Bob lived a full life and as we mourn his passing we rejoice knowing that for the first time in 95
years the Mortensen & Karstensen families are together again-Bob’s gone home. A small family
graveside service will be held at a later date.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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