Gene M Karstens

Velgene “Gene” Karstens age 79 of Elkhorn, NE died Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Methodist Hospital. He was born September 17, 1946, in Carroll, Iowa to Harry and Luella (Martens) Karstens. He was baptized October 13, 1946 at Peace Lutheran Church in Ulmer, Iowa and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake, Iowa. Gene graduated from Wall Lake High School in 1964. From there he had a scholarship for both basketball and baseball at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE with a BAE degree. While at Wayne, scouts from the Chicago White Sox came to watch him pitch and he was offered a spot on the team but, due to injuries on both legs, that dream was not fulfilled. Gene was good in basketball and broke many Wall Lake High School records. His love for sports put him coaching at Prague, NE in football, basketball, and later as the Prague Midget’s coach where he coached his son and son-in-law. He taught in Wall Lake and also in Prague. Gene worked at Hellstar Corp in Wahoo as a supervisor until accepting a job with the Bank of Prague from 1976-1994. He remained on the Board of Directors where he would have served 50 years come 2026. Up until Gene and Cynthia moved to Elkhorn, Gene loved his vegetable gardens. They took many vegetables to the Farmers Market as well as sold from their home along with his bedding plants.

Gene married Cynthia Vermeline on August 15, 1971, at Edensburg Lutheran Church in Malmo, NE. He became a member and served on the church council there for many years, served at soup suppers and barbeques, taught Sunday school, and became the financial advisor up until a couple months ago.

To this union was born a son Brent and a daughter Kari. He loved teaching his children, and later grandchildren, how to pitch a baseball or softball, how to properly stand and swing a bat, shoot basketballs, and throw footballs. He adored his grandkids and they adored him.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Luella Karstens and in-laws Darwin and Sharon (Banghart) Vermeline and sister-in-law Avonda Karstens. He is survived by his wife Cynthia; son and daughter-in-law Brent and Lesley Karstens of Elkhorn; and daughter and son-in-law Kari and Alan Pokorski of Gretna; 5 grandchildren, Emerson and Miller Karstens and Landon, Avery, and Crash Pokorski; brothers Dennis Karstens of Overland Park, KS, Marvin (Barbara) Karstens of Bryan, TX; sisters Diane (Randy) Carnine of Grinnell, IA and Carlene (Dave) Potthoff of Auburn, IA; sisters-in-law Denise (Cal) Allen of Garland, NE, Kristie (Bob) Lynch, Lisa (Butch) Vasa all from Camdenton, MO; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Friday, January 2, 2026 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Wahoo. Visitation will be 3-6 pm Thursday, January 1, 2026 also at the church. Interment will be at Edensburg Lutheran Cemetery in Malmo. Memorial gifts in Gene’s memory may be given to Edensburg Lutheran Cemetery, Prague Fire and Rescue, Malmo Fire and Rescue, or Omaha Fire Department Station 71.