Martha Jean (Moorhead) Carstensen

Aug 8, 1917 - Oct 12, 2012

Resident of Pleasanton, California Martha died peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on Friday, Oct. 12. Martha was born in South Bend, Indiana and entered into rest in Pleasanton, California. She was a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Home Economics.

At the beginning of WWII, Martha enlisted in the Army. After basic training in Des Moines, IA, she was stationed at Hammer Field in Fresno, CA, where she met Lt. Harold K. Carstensen. Martha and Harold were married June 22, 1946 at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church in San Francisco.

After the war, Harold enrolled as an Electrical Engineering student at UC Berkeley and moved his new wife to Richmond, CA. David was born in 1949, followed by Jeanne in 1950. After graduating, Harold was offered a position with the new Lawrence Livermore Lab and the family moved to Livermore.

Martha's family grew with Lynn in 1951, Donald in 1954 and Carol in 1955. Martha's parents, Blair and Edna Moorhead retired to Livermore in 1955. With her family close by, Martha enjoyed her career as a homemaker. Harold traveled a great deal while the children were young, both for the Lab and as a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Martha, Harold and the five kids made annual trips to Harold's family home at Lake Park, IA.

When not traveling, Martha kept busy volunteering for the Junction Avenue School PTA (she was a lifetime honorary member) and driving needy families to medical care in Oakland for the Junction Avenue School nurse, Jerry Deck. Blair and Edna were active in the First Presbyterian Church in Livermore and encouraged Martha and the children to participate. Martha also enjoyed gardening, sewing, reading, and visiting with her neighbors on North I Street.

Harold retired from the Lab in 1970 but continued to work as an engineering consultant until 1993. Martha and Harold then traveled to Europe to visit Harold's family home in Denmark. Martha continued her career as a homemaker, babysitter and chauffeur upon the birth of their first grandchild in 1971. The grandchildren joined in on the trips to Iowa and spent many hours visiting on North I.

After 49 years together, Harold died in August 1995.

Martha continued to open her home to all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed being the family chauffeur until 2005 when she hung up her car keys. She continued to enjoy visiting with and watching the antics of her grandchildren and the company of her neighbor of over 40 years, Darlene Wallace.

In August of 2006, Martha moved to Buena Park, CA to live with and be lovingly cared for by her daughter and son-in-law Carol and Mike Ward. On July 3, 2011, Martha returned to Pleasanton to visit with her daughter and son-in-law Lynn and Max Martin. Surrounded by all of the family and friends in the Tri-Valley, she stayed. Grandson Jeffrey Turner provided her with loving care thru her last days. She enjoyed being surrounded daily by Granddaughter Carolyn Carlson, Grandsons Matthew and Jackson Martin and great grandson Caleb Carlson.

Martha continued to participate in services at the First Presbyterian Church in Livermore and events held by the Presbyterian Women with long time friends Helen Moore, Betty Greenlee, and Rosemary Coleman. The highlight of each month for Martha was a visit to Se'Bella Salon to be lovingly pampered by long time family friend Carol Male and Tran Phan "Rosie".

Martha was preceded in death by her husband Harold Carstensen and parents Blair and Edna Moorhead, brother Robert Moorhead and granddaughter Lisa Carstensen.

She is survived her children David (Mary) Carstensen of Simi Valley, Jeanne Carstensen of Livermore, Lynn (Max) Martin of Pleasanton, Donald (Melanie) Carstensen of Durham, Carol (Mike) Ward of Buena Park; grandchildren Donald (Michelle) Turner of Pleasanton, Jeffrey Turner of Livermore, Jeramy Ward of Buena Park, Jennifer (Tom) Pavia of Thousand Oaks, Heather (Robert) Barron of West Covina, Brandon (Becky) Carstensen of Durham, , Molly (Brian) Eggers of Sparks, NV, Carolyn (Dave) Carlson of Tracy, Patrick Forcier of Pleasanton, Laurel (Brad) Terry of Salinas, Ellen Carstensen of Sparks, NV, Matthew Martin and Jackson Martin of Pleasanton, Christian Forcier of Folsom, Nicole (Giuseppe) Fielder of Alexander VA, Katie (Steve) Hill of San Leandro; great grandchildren Trevor and Auburn Turner of Pleasanton, Cassidy Fielder of Alexander, VA, Kiefer Hill of San Leandro, Bayly and Brayden Carstensen of Durham, Caleb Carlson of Tracy, Logan Pavia of Thousand Oaks and Briar Eggers of Sparks, NV. Martha is also survived by long time friends Darlene Wallace of Visalia, Julie (Chris) Burkhart of Sunol, Don Turner of Livermore and Jim Forcier of Pleasanton.

Published in Contra Costa Times on October 19, 2012

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

01/10/2026 EJS