Randy Joe Kersten

Randy Joe Kersten, 65, passed away peacefully on October 31st, 2026 at his home in Texas City, Texas. Randy was the husband of Holly Kersten. They shared 33 years of marriage together.

Randy was born in Marlin, Texas on February 7th, 1961. He was the youngest son of Roy and Nora Kersten. Randy proudly helped his parents work on their cattle farm and bailing hay. From a young age, Randy’s true passion was farming and gardening, but when he attended Baylor he discovered the finer things in life that farming could not provide.

At the age of 16, Randy started his first job at HEB sacking groceries, and he did not stop working until August 2026, 3 months before his death. We always said, “Life is short!.” This is living proof to stop, retire, and do the things you want to do. Go enjoy life TODAY! This is the moral of his story.

Work history:
HEB - Texas, 31 years
Glazier Food Market - Las Vegas, Nevada, 3 years
Winn Dixie Stores - Birmingham, Alabama, 2 years
Giant Foods - Rockville, Maryland, 2 Years
Acme - New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, 12 years
Randall’s Store Director - Galveston, Texas 5 years
Randall’s Store Director - League City, Texas 1 year

Randy enjoyed family life, traveling, gardening, cooking for holidays, and working. Going on cruises became Holly and Randy’s favorite method of travel and relaxation. Randy will be remembered for his kind and humble spirit. He loved caring for his family and co-workers. Randy was known for his hard work ethic and teaching his employees to succeed beyond their current roles. He was also known for pocket dialing anyone and everyone he knew! Randy had a tender smile and a friendly personality. He loved talking to everyone he encountered and was a wonderful story teller. All of Randy’s co workers, his extended family, always spoke highly of him.

Randy is predeceased by his father, Roy Walter Kersten and his mother, Nora (Meyer) Kersten. He is survived by his wife, Holly Lynn Kersten, daughter, Brittany Crosser-Reeves and husband John Reeves, daughter Meredith Kersten, his beloved 6 year old rescue dog Hank Williams Jr., sister Peggy Polster and husband Wayne, brother Jimmy Kersten and wife Jane Kersten.

Pastor Brackman will lead the memorial service. Randy met Pastor Brackman only a few short months ago, but appreciated his cowboy spirit and unwavering Texas pride. Randy gained much peace from Pastor Brackman in the short time he got to know him and felt very much at home in his church.

A Memorial Service for Randy will be held on November 9th, 2026, at 10:30 A.M. at Peace Lutheran Church located at 9111 Emmett F Lowry Expressway, Texas City, Texas 77591. Following the memorial there will be a 3 hour lunch reception for family, friends, neighbors, church family, and all of Randall's family/co-workers. The reception starts at 11:45 A.M. at the Water Grove Event Venue, located at 3920 Gulf Frwy, Dickinson, Texas 77539.

It will be an uplifting time. There will be plenty of parking, seating, food, non-alcoholic drinks, and desserts. There will also be a slide show with music, socializing and sharing great memories. We will have a microphone for anyone that would like to share a memory.

We will “attempt” to stream the memorial service and reception from Holly Kersten’s Facebook account for those who cannot attend. You will need to friend request me before Monday to view the Memorial and Reception live Central Time.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to any cancer care research center, e.g., St. Jude, Texas Children’s Cancer Center or Ronald McDonald House. Randy was passionate about babies and children not suffering from this horrific disease before they even had a chance to live their lives. He would have traded his life to see a child have time to live their life and not suffer.