January 17, 1926 - February 16, 2024
Roy Kirsten, a life long Stocktonian, died peacefully on February 16, 2024, at age 98.
Roy was born on January 17th, 1926, to Frieda and William C. Kirsten. He graduated from Stockton High School and excelled in football as a wide receiver with the Tarzans.
After graduation, Roy was drafted into the United States Army, serving as a tank crew member and eventually a tank commander in General Patton’s 3rd Army. His service took him to the heart of the European Theatre, where he was actively involved in pivotal combat operations. These included the decisive Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes and military engagements across Central Europe. He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat in Zwickau, Germany.
Following his return to civilian life, Roy attended the College of the Pacific, where he continued to pursue his passion for football as a member of the Pacific Tigers. While at Pacific, Roy met the love of his life, Mary Ann Ferguson. In 1950, after his graduation, they were married. Roy and Mary Ann enjoyed 72 years of marriage until her passing in 2022, a testament to their enduring love and profound partnership.
In 1951, Roy embarked on a successful career in business, first with Seaboard Finance, then with Klein Brothers of Stockton, CA, in 1959 as a bean commodities trader. In 2001, he joined his son, David, at the Kirsten Company of Lodi, where he was proud to work alongside his son and grandson. In 2011, he retired after 50 years in commodity trading.
Roy was an avid golfer and pilot throughout his adult life, finding joy and freedom in the skies and on the greens. However, Roy’s greatest source of pride and joy was his family. He raised three children with Mary Ann: Bruce Edward Kirsten of Henderson, Nevada, David Alan Kirsten of Lodi, California, and Carol Elanor Miller of Stockton. His legacy lives on through his six grandchildren, Aaron Kirsten, Kevin Burnett, Mark Kirsten, Carolyn Montgomery, Alex Miller, and Kelsey Miller, as well as his seven great- grandchildren, all of whom he cherished.
Roy Kirsten will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend—a man whose kindness, generosity, and unwavering love touched the lives of all who knew him.
A private service honoring Roy's life will be held at Cherokee Memorial Cemetery in Lodi, California, where he will be laid to rest alongside his beloved Mary Ann. A celebration of life is being planned for March, offering family and friends the opportunity to gather, reminisce, and honor his remarkable life.