Elmer Kasten

UNIONTOWN, Mo. -- Elmer Walter Kasten, 98, of Kennewick, Wash., passed away peacefully from this earth Thursday, July 21, 2011. A life well served.

He was born Nov. 6, 1912, in Uniontown, son of Arthur C. and Agnes Telle Kasten. He spent his formative years working the family farm with his siblings in Perry County.

Brothers Herbert, Theophil (Ted), Irwin, Walter, and a sister, Wilma Schuessler, and their respective spouses preceded him in death.

Elmer and Ruby Jane Blair were married in January 1941. In 1947 with two young daughters, they moved to Southern California to start a new career in the dairy business.

Success followed and in 1962, Elmer and Ruby once again redefined their lives by becoming motel owners and managers. Elmer retired in the late 1970s and became a volunteer driver for the newly created RSVP program in Northern California.

After 45 years of shared love and happiness, Ruby passed away in early 1986. Elmer remarried. He and Lillian Popp Telle celebrated nearly 17 years together sharing mutual interests with family and friends in Perryville, Mo. Lillian passed away in September 1999. Elmer's last 11 years have been spent with daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Gary Boehnke in Kennewick.

Elmer is survived by loving family members: daughters Judy Campilongo and Bonnie Boehnke, sons-in-law Gary Boehnke and Gary Campilongo; beloved grandsons and their wives, David and Linda Cahoon, Michael and Taylor Boehnke, Daryl and Michelle Cahoon, Matthew and Dawn Boehnke, William and Michele Boehnke. Adored great-grandchildren are Ryland, Matthew Jr., Emery, Brandon, Jordan, Christina, Mallory, Torianne, Skyler, Savannah, Gabriella, Brianna and Madison. Elmer also leaves numerous nephews and nieces, their children and loyal friends.

A grandson, Darren Cahoon, died in 2010.

A quiet soul and special life, Elmer will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his strong Lutheran faith and passion for his beloved baseball. He will be dearly missed.

The funeral was held July 27 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kennewick, with Mark Bertermann officiating.

Visitation will be at Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Monday.

A service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Matthew Marks officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 2505 West 27th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99337, or Hospice at the Chaplaincy, 2108 W. Entiat Ave., Kennewick, WA 99336.