Richard Kasten

Richard Kasten, 64, of Eitzen, Minn., was called home to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on February 23, 2025.

Richard was born on August 4, 1960, to Hillery and Lila (Dehning) Kasten in Caledonia, Minn. He attended elementary school in Dorchester, Iowa, where he proudly served as a janitor in his youth. He had many fond memories of Dorchester, especially of his Grandma Dehning and spending time with all his cousins.

After his family moved to Eitzen, Minn., he finished his schooling at Caledonia High School, graduating in 1978. After high school, Richard briefly attended University of Minnesota-Waseca where he was part of the football team. He left school and moved west with several of his friends in 1980. He worked on oil rigs and learned to drive a straight stick tractor trailer in the mountains of Wyoming and Utah driving solo for the first time during a snowstorm. Richard returned to Minnesota in 1981 and worked several jobs ending with Highway Maintenance for Houston County, Minn. Richard proudly maintained roads for the residents of Houston County for 22 years until his health required him to end his employment in 2018. He loved farming on the side and owned a small dozer he also worked and proudly watched his son Zach take over the extra employment.

Richard married Susan Schmitz on June 29, 1991. They were blessed with four children, Seth (Hannah Felten) of Eitzen, Minn., Zachary (Mary Gerdes) of Caledonia, Minn., Clare of Rochester, Minn., and Jed (special friend Claire Buttell) of Caledonia, Minn., They were further blessed with grandsons John Richard Kasten and Robert William Kasten; granddaughters, Mary Jennette Kasten and Nora Rose Kasten. Richard loved being a grandpa, he only wished his health wouldn’t have prevented him from being the active grandpa he really wanted to be.

Richard was extremely proud of his children and loved them dearly. He loved watching them in all of their activities during their youth and high school years. Richard passed on his love of farming to Seth, Zach and Jed. He also loved traveling to see Clare as she worked in the National Park Service, but really loved her chocolate chip cookies!

Richard was a lifelong member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eitzen, Minn. He served on the church council for several years only stopping due to his health but proudly passing the service on to his sons.

Richard is survived by his wife, his children, grandsons, granddaughters, mother, his sister Karen (Eric) Ness of Caledonia, Minn; his mother-in-law Lois Schmitz of Caledonia, Minn.; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Pete (Mary) Schmitz of Canby, Minn., Dan (Linda) Schmitz of Plainview, Minn., Lori (Bob) Ellenz of Caledonia, Minn., Fred (Patty) Schmitz of Duluth, Minn., Maureen Pitts of Caledonia, Minn., Matt (Jody) Schmitz of Caledonia, Minn., Jeanne (Bryan) Eglinton of Hastings, Minn., Rob (Ann) Schmitz of Caledonia, Minn., Dianne (Doug) Plager, Rochester, Minn., Kate (Gary) Amunrud of Lakeville, Minn., and Al (Barbie) Schmitz of Caledonia, Minn. He is further survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Richard is proceeded in death by his father, his father-in-law Miles Schmitz, several aunts and uncles, his cousin Rick Dehning and special friends Dan Gran and Dennis Twite.

The family would like to thank St. Croix Hospice for the compassionate care given to Richard.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 1, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Eitzen. Pastor Todd Krueger will officiate and burial will follow in the church cemetery. A luncheon will be held after the funeral at the Eitzen Community Center. Visitation will be on Friday from 4-8 p.m. at the church, and from 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday before the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to EXPAND at University of Wis. – La Crosse, or the Parkinson Voice Project-Speak Out.

McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, is assisting the family.