Joycelyn Phyllis (Wisely) Kasten

Joycelyn Phyllis Kasten, age 87, of Jackson left this world Friday, May 22, 2020, to join her Lord and Savior.

She was born Dec. 7, 1932, in Oakdale, Illinois, a daughter of the late Ray and Waltena Reuter Wisely. She and Robert N. Kline were married in 1953; he died in 1972. She and Kenneth G. Kasten were married in 1975; he died in 2011.

Joycelyn was raised on a farm, where her mother taught her to be an excellent cook. She was a graduate of Nashville (Illinois) High School, where she was an athlete, a cheerleader and, because of her red hair, was affectionately known as “The Red Flash.” 

Joycelyn earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska. She taught in the Lutheran School system for approximately 29 years, most of those years at St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson. She was a well-respected and well-liked teacher, who was energetic and kept her students’ attention. She was known to have stood on her head when her entire class received 100% on its spelling test. Even after retirement, she would always acknowledge her former students and call them by name.

Joycelyn was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, P.E.O. Teachers’ Sorority, River City Quilting Guild in Cape Girardeau, and was a former member of Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson. She enjoyed sewing, cross-stitching, and quilting, giving away many of her quilts to family and friends. Joycelyn was an eye-witness when the Apollo 11 launch sent the first men to the moon. She was truly compassionate and helpful to others and generous to worthy causes. Above all, she was a touch-stone to all members of her family, and to her friends and community.

Loving survivors include two sons, Kim A. Kline of Orlando, Florida, and Klif B. (June) Kline of Coulterville, Illinois; three stepchildren, Robert (Anne) Kasten of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Bruce (Valerie) Kasten of Marion, Illinois; and Ann Steck of St. Charles, Missouri; sister, Dolly Fuqua, and brother, Jo Wisely, both of Oakdale; five grandchildren, Jason McKinley, Katie (Phil) Hodak, Ashley Steck, Chelsea (Cade) Neilson and Karly (Matt) Broerman; four great-grandchildren, Jacob (Makayla) McKinley, Anna McKinley, Sequoia Hodak and Coral Hodak. She also leaves behind many other beloved family members and friends who loved her deeply. It was Joycelyn’s greatest joy in the last months of her life to learn she would be gaining another great-grandchild and her first great-great-grandchild.

In addition to her husbands and parents, Joycelyn was preceded in death by two sisters, Rohma Patton and Nadine Sronce; four brothers, Charles “Bud,” Earl, Lester and infant brother Jackie Wisely; two grandchildren, Matthew Kasten and Matthew McKinley; and her granddaughter-in-law, Elizabeth McKinley.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and from 10 a.m. until service time Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, with the Rev. Jason Shaw officiating. Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

While there will never be enough time or words to adequately express what Joycelyn meant to so many, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial gifts be made in Joycelyn’s name to St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. Paul Lutheran School or Saxony Lutheran High School.

The family asks all visitors please adhere to proper social distancing guidelines and wear a mask for the safety of all.

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