Richard August "Dick" Kastner

Richard August “Dick” Kastner, age 80, of Laurie, passed away Monday, January 31, 2011, at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. He was born August 14, 1930, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, to August and Jean Clemens Kastner. Richard spent most of his early years in Superior, Wisconsin, with exception of the time he and his parents spent at Camp Livingston with his grandparents. Both his father and his grandfather were high rated officers in the US Army and were very influential in Richard’s life. Once his father was deployed overseas, Richard, his mother and grandmother returned to Wisconsin to be near family. Richard had a dream to fly and he worked very hard to accomplish his goal and at the early age of 16 he obtained his private pilot’s license. After graduating from Central High School in 1948, Richard joined the National Guard and was sent to Texas for army fixed wing aircraft training and later helicopter school. He graduated with a B.S. in Education from Superior State College in 1953. Richard married the love of his life, Kay Garvey, on Christmas Eve of 1954 at the First Presbyterian Church in Superior. Dick and Kay started their family on February 28, 1956, with the birth of their first child Kathy Lynn. Dick worked on the railroad and taught upper middle school until he was hired by TWA on April 30, 1956. They relocated to Ypsilanti, Michigan and lived there for over 5 years. During these years, Dick and Kay were blessed with three more children. After a short residency in Illinois, the Kastner family moved to Liberty, Missouri, in January of 1962, where they raised their family. Throughout the years Dick and Kay accomplished many home improvement projects and life was good. Dick also enjoyed hunting, flying sailplanes and sailing. Sailing ultimately became the family’s choice of weekend fun and in the 70’s they began making many trips to the Ozarks. In 1978, the Kastner’s purchased their first cabin at “The Lake”. In 1983, they sold their family home in Liberty and moved to the lake full time. They custom designed their lakeside home in 1985 and it has always been the perfect gathering place for friends and family. Dick continued to fly out of Kansas City for TWA until Oct of 1987, at which time he flew international flights out of St. Louis. After his retirement, he participated in a TWA pilot recruitment program in St. Louis. Dick and Kay were blessed with their granddaughter, Kristian Kastner, on May 19, 1991. They made many trips to visit her and she loved spending time at the lake with Grandpa, playing cribbage and boating. Dick lived a full and illustrious life and he was always aware of all of nature’s beauty that surrounded him. Dick was a member of the Osage Community Elks Lodge #2705 in Laurie and he sincerely embraced the comfort and friendships of West Lake Christian Church. In addition to his wife, Kay, he is survived by his sons, Richard Charles of Gilbert, Arizona and Jeffrey Paul of Grimesland, North Carolina; his daughter, Paula Jean Miller and husband Bob of Clarksville, Tennessee; his granddaughter, Kristian Mae of Clarksville, Tennessee; his half-sisters, Claudia White of Jackson, Tennessee and Ingrid Brown of Jonesboro, Arkansas; his son-in-law, Michael Moninger of Grenada, West Indies; and many other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathy Moninger, and his brother, Ronald Kastner. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 19, at the West Lake Christian Church in Laurie with Reverend Gary Hagen officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the West Lake Christian Church or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Expressions of sympathy may be left online at www.kidwellgarber.com. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of the Kidwell-Garber Laurie/Sunrise Beach Chapel.

Richard August "Dick" Kastner

January 31, 2011

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Richard August "Dick" Kastner

January 31, 2011

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