CASTEN, Leonard Wilhelm --- 1895-1993

KNODT, CASTEN, SCHARA, BALTZ, SCHUTTE

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 9/29/2011 at 19:03:08

Leonard Wilhelm Casten

Leonard Wilhelm Casten, son of John and Mary Magdalena (Knodt) Casten, was born Nov. 9, 1895 in Clayton County, Iowa. He died Sunday, July 11, 1993 in the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital at Decorah, Iowa. He was 97.

He was baptized March 12, 1897 by the Rev. F. H. Schumann and confirmed April 4, 1909 by the Rev. R. Kuehne, both at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. He attended country school in Grand Meadow Township in rural Postville.

On Jan. 11, 1921 he was married to Anna Carolina Schara in the Zion Lutheran Church at Castalia. They had one daughter.

After their marriage, the Leonard Castens lived and worked about two and a half years on the Casten home farm south of Postville. They then moved to Postville where Leonard and his brother, John O. (Jack) Casten, opened a service station and bulk oil business with the then Standard Oil Company of Indiana. Leonard worked both for and with the Standard Oil Company for over thirty-give years, serving the people of Postville and the surrounding community with petroleum products. He retired late in 1957. He and his wife enjoyed over 25 winters in Mesa, Ariz., where they met and established many good friends.

Leonard is preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, Karl, Walter, Victor, Lorenz and John O. (Jack); and a sister, Theresia (Mrs. August Baltz).

Survivors include his wife, Anna, of Postville; one daughter, Marian and her husband, Paul Schutte of Postville; four grandsons, two granddaughters, and nine great grandchildren.

Leonard was a lifetime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville. He served on the Church council and served either in the capacity of a councilman or building committee member for the remodeling of the church in 1940, the building of a new parsonage in 1953, and the building of the educational unit in 1962. Leonard was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Order of Eastern Star and the Postville Volunteer Fire Department. He served on the Board of the Postville Schools (many years as president), the Board of the Community Memorial Hospital, the Board of the Big-4 Fair, and served as clerk for both Postville and Post Township elections.

Leonard loved people, fishing, playing cards and gardening, and he especially loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Leonard Casten were held Wednesday, July 14, 1993 in St. Paul Lutheran Church at Postville. The Rev. Charles W. Miller officiated. The Schutte Funeral Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in the Postville Cemetery.

Casket bearers were Stephen L., Peter K., Kim P. and Christopher L.Schutte, Stephen P. Brackett and Jeffrey S. White.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.