Charlotte Kasten

On Wednesday, June 22, 2016, Charlotte Sue Kasten, 67, of Jackson answered the invitation of Jesus to "come home to the mansion prepared for her." She passed away peacefully at her home, following a valiant 11-year battle with breast cancer. Her unwavering faith saw her through all the steps of the journey. Her infectious smile and strong faith touched hundreds, if not thousands, of people, and these countless friendships led her to be thought of as "Mom," "Grandma" and "Auntie" to many.

The second of five children (a twin to Shirley), Charlotte was born Feb. 15, 1949, in Cape Girardeau to Gilbert and Leona (Hecht) Mangels.

She attended St. Paul Lutheran School and was a 1968 graduate of Jackson High School. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, where she also was united in marriage to Clyde Kasten on Nov. 20, 1971. All their children also were baptized and confirmed at St Paul.

Charlotte worked at the former Kroger Egg Grading Plant in Jackson and as a cook at St. Paul Lutheran School and Jackson Public Schools. She did some baby-sitting and house cleaning and taught 4-year-old Sunday school many years. She enjoyed books, cooking, crafts and dancing. Since retirement, her favorite passions were spoiling the grandchildren and packing seeds for Hope Seeds.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Clyde Kasten of the home; two sons and a daughter, Jonathan (Roxanne) Kasten of Cape Girardeau and son, Patrick, of Yuma, Arizona, Matthew (Amy) Kasten and children, Caleb, Kelsey and Cole, of Jackson and Joy (Dave) Cline and daughters, Dharma and Madlyn, of Cape Girardeau; three stepgrandchildren, Brandon Hamilton and children, Kyra, Gunner and Jaxon, Shaina Garska and Steven Brown; twin sister, Shirley (Willie) Kasten of Uniontown, Missouri; and three brothers, Earl (Patty) Mangels of Bunceton, Missouri, Michael (Kim) Mangels of Millersville and Timothy (Wanda) Mangels of Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert and Leona Mangels.

All arrangements are at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson as follows:

Vistation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday at the church.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Revs. Eric Longman and Josh Schmidt officiating.

Interment will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, Charlotte requested memorial contributions to Hope Seeds; St. Paul Lutheran Church or school; the Rev. Bob Henrichs Library at St. Paul; Saxony Lutheran High School; St. Paul Radio Ministry; or the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.