Ruth Ann Kasten

Ruth Ann Kasten, 81, of Jackson went to her eternal home Thursday, June 14, 2012. She passed away peacefully at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Feb. 10, 1931, in Detroit, daughter of David C. and Anita Altenthal Eifert. She and R.C. Kasten were married Aug. 28, 1955, at Eisleben Lutheran Church in Scott City and were blessed with three children.

Ruth Ann attended school at the former Fornfelt Elementary School and graduated from the former Illmo-Fornfelt High School. She attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau and Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Ill.

She taught school at Redeemer Lutheran School in Philadelphia and then at St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson. She served as church secretary 28 years at St. Paul Lutheran Church, from 1967 until retiring in 1995. She was a member of Concordia Guild and a 4-H club leader many years.

Survivors include her husband; three children, Renee (John) Amos and Randy Kasten of Jackson, Debra Kasten of St. Louis; two grandchildren, Michelle (Randy) Dees and Christopher Amos; two great-grandchildren, Jolee and Ellie Dees; and a sister, Rosemary Miller of Hot Springs Village, Ark.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center, and from 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, with the Rev. Robert Henrichs officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery.

The family suggests that memorials be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Saxony Lutheran High School.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.