Nathan Mitchel Carstens, 26, embarked on his final adventure on April 21, 2025. Nathan was born in Anchorage, AK, on May 20, 1998. He lived in Tok, AK, for a year and Fairbanks, AK, for six years before moving to Nikiski, AK, in 2005. Growing up on Island Lake, he loved being in and on the water with his family, going to the beach, and enjoying all the outdoor activities the Kenai Peninsula had to offer. He had an uncanny ability to make people laugh, especially in tense situations, an infectious smile that radiated love to all around him, and a zest for life that he shared with anyone he could.

Nathan graduated with honors from Nikiski Middle/High School in 2016, where he was a four-sport athlete and a State Wrestling and Football Champion. He graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2021 with a degree in property management. While attending UAA, Nathan became a small group leader for his peers through Chi Alpha Campus Ministries. After a short time, God called him back to school to become a teacher in rural Alaska through Alaska Student Partnership. While in school, he married the love of his life, Grace, and they dove into this plan together. When he was offered a job in Aniak in March of 2024, he eagerly accepted and could not wait to start his work. Sadly, Nathan's cancer returned shortly after, and he was unable to fulfill his desire to work with the students of Aniak.

Nathan had survived cancer twice before in 2018 and 2023. Despite this, he lived a full life that he was very proud of. He graduated from college, caught all of Alaska's greatest fish, married Grace in 2023, bought a house, trained his own retrieving dog, and never let illness stop him.

Nathan's family was everything to him and he loved them deeply, from his nieces and nephews, to his grandparents, everyone in between, and especially his wife. As an adult, Nathan and Grace spent time living near each of his siblings and parents and often initiated family events. He had an unbreakable and special bond with each of them and their families.

Many people considered Nathan a friend and were eager to be invited on his adventures. Nathan would use these opportunities to share his love of fishing, spending time outside, and discuss his faith in Jesus. Nathan wanted everyone to be at peace with each other and with Jesus and he spent his time helping people do that.

Nathan is survived by his wife, Grace, parents Dan and Debbie Carstens, siblings Seth (wife Abbi), Benjamin (wife Alexis), Bethany, Lillian, nephew Samson, and nieces Sierra, Summer, and Iyla.

A memorial service will be held at MCA Church in Anchorage on May 16 at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, Nathan's family is asking that donations be made to the Nathan Carstens

Memorial Scholarship Fund through this link: https://pushpay.com/g/ffccarson?fnd=CrYQB_vIHF1pVFC87TDFmQ&r=No&lang=en&src=qrcode

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Peninsula Clarion on Apr. 30, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Nathan Carstens

Sponsored by Peninsula Clarion.

4 Entries

Eric

May 11, 2025

A wonderful man. May his memory be a blessing. To all those reading this, do something good in Nathan's memory and honor.

Bill and Carol McCormick

May 7, 2025

Nathan showed us his immeasurable strength and spirit the night he won the state wrestling championship. He´s just one of those individuals you will never forget. You have our deepest sympathy, and we share in your grief.

Carson Amundson

April 30, 2025

I met Nathan on the Camp Hope missions trip with Chi Alpha back in 2022. He was with the Anchorage Chi Alpha and I was with the Fargo, ND Chi Alpha. I remember the first real interaction I had with him was when he invited me to play a card game called Neighbors during our free time. Never heard of it before but thought it would be fun to play with this fun, lively, energetic dude who I just met. As the week went on and we got done with the camp, we finally got to debrief back in Bethel, AK. That was where I really got to hang with Nathan and get to know him! We stayed up late that night playing cards and goofing around as guys! He was such an amazing man of God! You could tell he had so much life in him that was just infectious to be around! Never would I have thought that man had fought cancer before. He was just larger than life! And he loved Jesus so much! The last time I saw him in person was when we met up with him and Grace at a coffee shop before we left our back for home. I remember him telling us we should come back up and go on a salmon run with him! Over the years things got busy and I never was able to take him up on that offer! After reflecting, and remembering the amazing man I got to know for such a short but special time in my life, I hope to take him up on that salmon run offer when I see him again in Heaven! Nathan is celebrating and loving the presence of God right now! We can rejoice in the life he is experiencing now! I pray for the Peace of the Lord over Grace and the rest of Nathan´s family! Through the Blood of Jesus, there is hope that we will see him again! Hallelujah and Amen!

Emi Hurley

April 30, 2025

A life well lived. God rest his soul and peace to his loved ones. My condolences.

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