Barbara Kasten

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. -- Barbara Kasten of Merritt Island passed away the morning of Monday, April 9, 2018, at Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois.

Barb was a 1941 "Christmas baby," born in Buffalo, New York, to Floyd W. and Janet Cook Hoffman.

On April 8, 1967, in Santa Monica, California, she married Robert R. "Ron" Kasten, son of the late Oscar "Buster" and Irma Leimer Kasten. They had been married nearly 46 years, when Ron passed away Aug. 29, 2013.

Barb earned a doctorate in early childhood education and taught at Trinity College in Washington, D.C. She loved to travel, defy social conventions and was truly a character with her own unique personality.

Barb is survived by two children, Michael (Stacy) Kasten, and their children, Isaac, August, Sadie and Ella of Champaign, Illinois, and Julie (Derek) Johnston, and their children, Brett, Victoria and Lauren of Summerfield, North Carolina.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pocahontas.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. Lawrence Bradt officiating. Barb will be laid to rest with her late husband, Ron.

McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson is in charge of local arrangements.

A second memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 10 at Faith Lutheran Church in Merritt Island.

Donations are suggested to the P.E.O. Foundation.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.