Milton C. Kasten, 96, of Jackson, passed away peacefully, August 2, 2023, at the age of 96, at Chateau Girardeau.
Milton was born December 14, 1926, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Oscar W. and Ella Lydia (Neumeyer) Kasten.
His family moved numerous times during his education. He attended seven schools, starting September 1932 at Goshen in Oak Ridge, followed by Sandy Ridge, Dogwood, Tilsit, Mississippi County Bridges, Diehlstadt and Jackson High School, graduating in 1944. Milton served as a Gun Range Instructor in the U.S. Army at Ft. Leonard Wood Missouri and was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant in June 1955. He proudly wore his uniform to Veteran's Day events even into his mid-90's. Milton worked at Ceramo in Jackson for 18 years and then retired in 1992 from HWI/Do It Best in Cape Girardeau after another 18 years.
He and JoAnn Seabaugh were married December 21, 1958, at the First Baptist Church Jackson Missouri. They had lived on Bast Street in Jackson Missouri from 1959 until May 2016, when due to health issues, Milton moved into Saxony Independent Living. When he could no longer be by himself in independent living, in December 2022, he chose to relocate to Chateau Girardeau Assisted Living to be close to his brother Harold Lee, his sister Joyce King, and his cousin Nelson Kasten.
He was an active member of Zion Methodist church, delivered meals for the Jackson Senior Center, traveled with church groups, exercised, and watched Wheel of Fortune. He especially treasured time spent with his family and grandsons.
Loving survivors include his son, Kevin (Carla) Kasten of Lorena, Texas; daughter, Rhonda (Bill) Hedden of Nashville, Tennessee; three grandsons, Eric Hedden of Nashville, Brian (fiancée Abby) Hedden of Chicago, Illinois, and Nicholas Kasten of Lorena; brother Harold Lee Kasten; sister Joyce (Gene) King; and brother, Donald (Peggy) Kasten of Columbus Ohio.
In addition to his wife of 64 years, he was preceded in death by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Lou (Roy) Wendel, and sister-in-law Mary Kasten.
Friends may call from 1 p.m. to service time, Friday, August 4, 2023, at Zion Methodist Church in Gordonville. The Rev. Lyle Johnston will conduct the funeral service at 3 p.m., Friday, at the church. Interment and military honors will follow at the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may take the form of contributions to Zion Methodist Church Cemetery or the Jackson Senior Center.
Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab of Milton's personal obituary page at mccombsfuneralhome.com.
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