June 17, 1936 — July 17, 2020
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Kerstin Inger Margareta Rohr Detenbeck of Horseshoe Bay, Texas, passed away suddenly on July 17, 2020. She was born in Sweden on June 17, 1936.
She was predeceased by her parents, Knut Herbert and Signe Alfrida Rohr, and her loving husband of 30 years, Lee Detenbeck, who passed away in February 2020.
Kerstin is survived by her loving nephew, Mats Rohr and his wife Ulrika, and their two children David and Malin; also loving niece, Cecilia and her three children Jacob, Victor and Lucas; and a brother, Lennart and his wife Gunilla, all of Sweden; Kerstin’s stepchildren, Tyler Detenbeck and wife, Keller, and Susan Detenbeck Hostetter and husband, Ken, and their respective children, Lauren Perham, Hailey Detenbeck, Zachary Detenbeck and Braylon Detenbeck; and sister-in-law, Pat McLaughlin.
Kerstin’s father died when she was just 17, a shock to her and her mother Signe. She knew she wanted a career in modeling, so at age 19, knowing she could not endure leaving her sweet mother, together they moved to Paris. She began modeling for Christian Dior. She met many interesting people — even Ernest Hemingway. Later her career took her to Italy, as a top model for Valentino. It was during these years she developed an elegant sense for fashion, wine, and language skills. She was fluent in Swedish, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Latin.
In the early 1960s, she and her mother returned to Sweden, where Kerstin worked for a time for the Swedish government. She also studied at the University of Sweden and obtained an economics degree. She returned to the United States with her mother and lived in San Francisco for a couple of years working in fashion. Sometime after Kerstin moved to Houston and worked for various travel agencies; soon forming her own.
Her mother had returned to Sweden but traveled many times to the states to see her daughter. Likewise, Kerstin traveled to Sweden as well; never missing an important family event with Mats’ family and his sister and her mother. A sad day for Kerstin was when Signe died at age 92.
Through a mutual friend in Houston, she was introduced to Lee — falling madly in love, they married in 1990 and promptly moved to Horseshoe Bay. Together they had many years of happiness, traveling and enjoying their many friends in Horseshoe Bay.
Kerstin was known for tending to her rose garden and preparing lavish meals, playing bridge, gin rummy, reminiscing about her beloved homeland Sweden and fondly sipping her 4 o’clock glass of wine each afternoon with Lee or friends. Their beloved golden doodle Annika and cat Watson are living happily in El Paso, Texas, with Lee’s sister Pat.
This lovely, dignified and very dear woman, Kerstin, will be missed by her loving family in Sweden and the many people’s lives she touched in Horseshoe Bay.
There will be a service of celebration of her life at a later date at the Church of Horseshoe Bay. Kerstin’s ashes will be interred with Lee in the Mausoleum. An online guest register may be signed at PutnamCares.com.
Cremation arrangements by Putnam Funeral Home & Crematory LLC, Kingsland.