Jrwin A. Kastanek

Jrwin A. Kastanek, age 82, of Center Valley, Morrison County, Minnesota, passed away April 17th, 2009, at Gracepointe Crossing East, Cambridge, MN. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, April 25th, 10:30 AM, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, MN, with the Reverend Gerald Dalseth officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 PM on Friday, April 24th and 9-10 AM on Saturday, April 25th at Shelley-Virnig Funeral Chapel in Pierz. Parish Prayer Service at 7 PM Friday, April 24th. Military honors provided by Little Falls VFW Post 1112 and Pierz American Legion Post 341. Jrwin Kastanek was born February 7th, 1927 in Hillman Township to the late Frank and Anna (Nimsch) Kastanek. He grew up on the family farm near Center Valley and attended school in District 97. Following his schooling, Jrwin farmed with his father until his entry into the United States Army at the age of 18 years. He served during World War II in The Military Intelligence Service Center attached to the 3rd Army. After his honorable discharge in 1946, Jrwin returned to farming and furthering his education through night school. He did various custom farming, worked for Larson Boatworks, and for many years, Franklin Manufacturing, retiring in 1996. Jrwin was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz, Little Falls VFW Post 1112, Pierz American Legion Post 341, Morrison County Historical Society, and the German-Bohemian Heritage Society. He had served on the Center Valley Creamery Board, the Cloverleaf Consolidated Telephone Company Board, was a leader for the Center Valley Dairylanders 4-H Club, was active in NFO, and was a 34 year veteran of The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union. He was proud to have served as Clerk of the Hillman Township Board for 55 years, to have been an election judge for many years, and to have been a pitcher for the Center Valley, Lastrup, Pierz, and Buckman baseball teams. Jrwin is survived by son, Allan J. Kastanek of Minneapolis, MN; daughters, Colleen Kastanek of North Branch, MN, and Charlotte Kastanek of Sartell, MN. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Ligeia Uker, Stephanie Cholensky, Annie Kastanek, and John Kastanek, and three great-grandchildren, Jakob, Mitchell, and Laura Kastanek. He was preceeded in death by his wife, Cathryn, in 1999, parents, Frank and Anna, and sister, Melvina Janski. Casketbearers are Rick Gulden, Randy Gulden, Ralph Wilkes, George Wilkes, Ted Kasper, Dan Gruber, and John Kastanek. Honorary casketbearers are the members of the Hillman Township Board; Doris Tomala, Gerald Meyer, Tom Stangl, Harry McDonald, and Loren Tomala.

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Jrwin A. Kastanek

February 7, 1927 - April 17, 2009