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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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David Carlstedt
DAVID CARLSTEDT
Cedar Rapids
David Carlstedt was the fifth of 10 children, son of a Lutheran pastor, and resident of Cedar Rapids since 1965.
He was a Purple Heart World War II veteran, shot in the neck and arm. The loss of muscle in his right shoulder affected mobility in his shoulder, spine and hips, but he never complained. Instead, Dave was known for keeping active in sports and physical activities, including hobbies of swimming, biking, tennis, and spending time at the family cabin in Vermont on Lake Champlain. He loved collecting fossils and "specimens" from nature, had a gentle sense of humor and enjoyed a good pun. He wrote in his "Day Brightener" gratitude journal daily.
David received a bachelor's degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., and a M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota. David met his wife, Mary Jean, at Macalester and they married in 1958. He was an elementary school teacher, then left teaching and became an office building manager.
Dave and Mary Jean were known for befriending international students. They hosted Vietnamese refugees during the 1980s, and then developed the organization Friends of Internationals for international students at Kirkwood. For 15-plus years, they arranged group events such as potlucks, volleyball and sledding, helped with English, and brought the students to church.
As a member of Stonebridge Evangelical Free Church, and formerly of Cedar Hills Community Reformed Church, David was active with missions committees and membership in the Linn County Association of Evangelicals.
He is survived by three younger siblings, his wife, three children – Marcie, Ken and Nancy – eight grandchildren and five "adopted" grandchildren of international families.
He was a devoted Christian, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother and student mentor, and will be missed greatly.
Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at Stonebridge Church, 1829 Stoney Point Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids, by Pastor Randy Scheil and Pastor Robin Tyner, with a luncheon following. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. that morning.
In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Carlstedt requests donations be made in David's honor to either Paralyzed Veterans of America or World Vision International.
Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.
Online condolence may be left at www.teahen
funeralhome.com.
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