Keith Kelly Kastning's Obituary
Keith Kelley Kastning, son of Perry McKinley and Florence Wilma (Roach) Kastning, was born July 20, 1928 in the Smackout community, south of Seymour in Douglas County, Missouri. He departed this life Wednesday, November 1, 2006 in Glenwood Healthcare in Seymour, Missouri, at the age of seventy-eight years, three months, and twelve days. On May 23, 1952, he was united in marriage to Ida Mae Emerick in Mountain Home, Arkansas, and to this union six sons and one daughter were born. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sons, Ronnie Kelley Kastning and Randy Dean Kastning. Keith is survived by his loving wife of fifty-four years, Ida Mae, of the home; four sons, Garry Kastning, and his wife, Genita, Bob Kastning, and his wife, Debbie, Steve Kastning, and his wife, Laurie, and Scott Kastning, and his wife, Janice, all of Seymour, Missouri; one daughter, Shirley Hennigh and her husband, David, of Fulton, Missouri; seventeen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; a sister; Mary Sullenger, of Carterville, Missouri; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. He was born and raised in the Seymour area, where he graduated from Seymour High School in 1947 and then attended Southwest Missouri State University for two years. In December of 1950 he joined the United States Army, and served his country faithfully during the Korean War, and received three Bronze Stars for his service. After Keith and Ida Mae were married, they made their home on a dairy farm in the Seymour area and lovingly raised their family. He had worked for the University Extension Service, as well as doing DHIA testing for the area dairy farmers. He was an honorary chapter member of the Seymour FFA, and was a Boy Scout Leader while his sons were young, and had taught the Conservation Hunter Safety course. In addition to being a dairy farmer, he had retired from Hutchens Steel Industries in 1990, following twenty-two years of service. Keith had made his profession of faith in God and was a member of Antioch Baptist Church near Seymour, where he had served on the Church Board for several years. He was actively involved in the Wilson-Alexander American Legion Post 306 and was a past Post Commander. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1502, and Disabled American Veterans Chapter Orin Smith in Springfield, Missouri. Keith was awarded the Webster County “Good Citizen Award” in 1999 for his services to the Seymour Community. After his retirement, he enjoyed doing woodworking projects and playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In his spare time he also enjoyed fishing and hunting, working with his honey bees, and doing family genealogy. Keith was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories that he has created for his family and friends. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 4, 2006, in the Holman-Howe Chapel, Seymour. Burial will be in the Seymour Masonic Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Seymour, Missouri.
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