DYSART:  Oryne H. Kersten, 99, died Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at Sunnycrest Nursing Center in Dysart following an extended illness.
     Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, December 15, 2008 at the United Methodist Church in Dysart with Rev. Donald Bogue officiating.  Interment will be held at the Dysart Cemetery.  To honor Oryne's wishes, the casket will remain closed at all times and friends may register from 9 AM until service time at the church on Monday.  A Memorial Fund has been established.  Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.
     Oryne was born July 25, 1909 on a farm southeast of Dysart in Homer Township No. 3 of Benton County, the son of August and Mary (Kessler) Kersten.  He received his education in a rural school and graduated from Dysart High School in 1928.  He continued his education at Iowa State College in Ames in the Department of Agriculture.  Oryne farmed for many years and raised Pure Bred Hogs.  In 1958 he won the Grand Champion Boar Award in the Spotted Poland China Breed at the Iowa State Fair.  In 1960 he began the Kersten Monument Company and retired after thirty years in the business. He will be remembered for the many hours he gave as a volunteer in the country school district, delivering Meals On Wheels and on the Cancer Drive in Clark Township.  He also served as a Township Trustee for 16 years, and was a member of the Farm Bureau.
     Oryne married Wilma Balhorn in 1935 and they were parents of one son, Richard Lee Kersten.  The couple divorced in 1970 and he married LaVaun Gunderman Paulsen on September 10, 1970 at Dysart.  She preceded him in death on November 18, 2008.
     He is survived by his son, Richard Lee Kersten of North Las Vegas; two stepchildren, Glenace Hiatt  of Des Moines and Douglas (Sherina) Paulsen of Orangevale, CA; and one step-granddaughter and two step-great grandchildren.
     In addition to his parents and wife, LaVaun, he was preceded in death by four sisters