John Richard "Dick" Kasten

John Richard “Dick” Kasten passed away peacefully in the presence of his family in Clovis, CA on the evening of Thursday, January 25, 2018 after a long illness. Dick was born on October 27, 1938 to John Kasten and Angela Kasten in Seneca, Illinois, as the third oldest of five children. Dick grew up in the small farm town of Seneca, attending Saint Patrick’s Catholic Elementary School and graduating from Seneca High School in 1956.

Shortly after high school, Dick began working for the Illinois Bell Telephone Company as a lineman, until he joined the U.S. Army in 1959. After his deployment and service in Korea, he returned to the U.S. in 1963, where upon his return he stopped in Hollywood, CA, on his way back to Illinois, to visit his sister Elaine Paulus, and briefly met Diane Claflin, who 10 months later would become his wife. Dick and Diane were married in April 1964 in Seneca, Illinois and the following year had their first child Tanya Kasten in October 1965, in Ottawa, Illinois. They moved to Upland, CA in 1966 to be near Diane’s parents in California. Later they moved to nearby Alta Loma, CA where they celebrated the births of their five other children Noelle, Christopher, Brendan, Loren, and Andrew. Dick worked for Pacific Bell Telephone Company in southern California for many years, until moving to Fresno, CA in 1976, where he continued his career with Pacific Bell. Dick and the family then moved to Tollhouse, CA in 1979, where they themselves built much of their family home that they would enjoy nestled in the Sierra-Nevada mountains on a modest cattle ranch for 34 years. Dick joined The Ponderosa Telephone Company in 1979, where he eventually became Plant Manager and enjoyed many years of working in the comradery of the family owned mountain telephone company until his retirement in 2004. Dick was an active member of the mountain community that he truly loved, as one of the founding families of the Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Mission in Tollhouse, and later the Infant Jesus of Prague Church built in Prather, CA. Dick served on the board of the church, as well as a lecture and Eucharistic minister throughout the years at the church. Dick was also very active in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion, where he served as Commander of the VFW Post, and held other positions in the organizations over 30 years. Dick was known for his friendly and charming character and his humble style that made him a friend to everyone that he met.

He is survived by his loving wife Diane, of 54 years; his children, Christopher (Tawny), Brendan (Sharmel) Kasten, Loren (Lynea) Kasten, Andrew (Kathleen) Kasten; his son-in-law Brian (Tisha) Borchardt; his sixteen grandchildren; his sister and brothers, Elaine Paulus of Sugar Grove, William Kasten, Gerald (Sharon) Kasten both of Kansas City, MO, and Francis (Joanne) Kasten of Seneca; and his many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held on Thursday, February 1st, 2018 at 11:00 am at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 355 East Champlain Drive, Fresno, CA.

Donations in-lieu of flowers in honor of Dick’s life may be made to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (https://www.vfw.org/foundation) or the Multiple System Atrophy Coalition (https://www.multiplesystematrophy.org)