Steven Thorsten

Steven John Thorsten of Lansing passed away peacefully at home Sunday, April 5, 2020 at the age of 68. Services and burial are tentatively being planned for mid-June.

Steven was born in Waukon December 12, 1951, the oldest child of John and Elinor (Luth) Thorsten. He grew up on the family farm just down the road from Church Town and graduated from Kee High School in 1970.  Steve was on the wrestling team and chosen for the all-state wrestling team in his junior year.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1972, serving three deployments on the USS Enterprise. While serving, he transferred from the Enterprise (CVN65) to the Naval Reactor Facility A1W Prototype in Idaho Falls, ID receiving training as a nuclear propulsion plant operator.  This training offered him the opportunity to work in the nuclear power field after being discharged from the Navy in 1978.

Steven joined Westinghouse Hanford Corp. at the Hanford Site in Richland, WA in 1981. He supported this mission as a senior reactor engineer at the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), a nuclear research and test reactor originally designed to develop and test advanced fuels and materials for the Liquid Fast-Breeder Reactor Program.

Unfortunately, due to a work-related injury, he became disabled at the age of 48.

Steven enjoyed working in the nuclear power field. He was a true motor head, he loved his cars and knew them inside out, and was an avid NASCAR fan.

Steven is survived by his wife, Carolyn (Hammell) of Lansing; his children, Amy Rea of Minneapolis, MN, Steven Thorsten of Milford, IL, Stephanie (Chad) Utecht of Richland, WA and Matthew (Christine) Thorsten of Richland, WA; his step-children, Sarah (Kris) Krueger of Waukon and Peter (Marilyn Britt) Kukes of Ferryville, WI; 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He is further survived by siblings, Patricia (Richard) Thorsten-Mickelson of Clarkston, WA, Richard David (Juliet) Thorsten of Gulfport, MS, Julie (Michael) Thorsten-Birner of Newell, SD, James Justav (Teresa) Thorsten of Genesee, ID, Sue (Greg) Stirn of Lansing and Helena Tanya (Daniel) Moffatt of Cedar Rapids. He was also blessed with many in-laws, uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Steven is preceded in death by his parents, John and Elinor Thorsten; and a niece, Courtney Birner.