Mary Jane Karsten, 76, of Sturgeon Bay passed away suddenly at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay on April 29, 2020. She was born on Nov. 27, 1943, in Elgin, Illinois, to Joseph and Virginia (Reber) Westwood. On June 16, 1962, she married Bruce Alan Karsten in Elgin, Illinois.

Mary and Bruce raised their family in Elgin and moved to Door County in 1992. She was a longtime volunteer with the Loaves and Fishes Ministry in Sturgeon Bay and was serving as director. Mary enjoyed flower gardening and was a member of the Salona Women’s Club. Her faith was very important to her, and she spent a lot of time reading her Bible.

Survivors include her husband; four sons, Bruce Karsten Jr. of Barrington, Illinois; Robert (Maureen) Karsten of Arlington Hts., Illinois; Bill (Tara) Karsten of St. Charles, Illinois; and Charlie (Jennifer) Karsten of Brussels; 11 grandchildren, Josh, Tim, Elisa, Will, Bridget, Gillian, Ryan, Jack, Isaac, James, and Portia; sister, Lois Molliter; and stepsister, Diane Menke. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Joseph (Bev) Westwood, and brother-in-law Jim Molliter.

Private family services will be conducted at Forbes Funeral Home, and burial will take place at Shiloh Moravian Cemetery.

*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.

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