Marvel Mae Carstenbrock of Austin, Minn., died Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, after a short battle with cancer.

She was born in Minneapolis in 1927 to Ralph and Florence Croft. Marvel attended Patrick Henry High School and Bethel College, and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. degree. She married Walter Carstenbrock in 1948 and moved to Austin in 1964, when Walt became executive director of the Austin YMCA.

While in Austin, Marvel worked for Dr. Herman Miller and volunteered at the St. Olaf Auxiliary Coffee Shop. She later worked as an aide at Sumner and Oakland schools. Marvel was a part of the Y’smenettes and active in her church (Grace Baptist Church in Austin). She also served as church secretary for several years. She was preceded in death by her husband Walter.

Marvel is survived by her son Ronald (Mary) Carstenbrock of Nipomo, Calif.; son Jay (Barbara) Carstenbrock of Wheaton, Ill.; daughter Beth (Charles) Peters of Austin; granddaughter Adrienne (A.J.) Dombeck of Bemidji, Minn.; granddaughters Stephanie Peters, Molly Carstenbrock and Emily Carstenbrock of Wheaton; granddaughter Megan (Adam) Butters of Coldwater, Mich.; grandson Justin Peters of Austin.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20 at Grace Baptist Church in Austin. There will be a visitation time for friends to greet the family at the church starting one hour before the service. Burial will be at a later date at Fort Snelling alongside her husband. The family would prefer memorials to either the Austin YMCA or Grace Baptist Church in Austin. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.