Charles A. KASTLER

KASTLER, GASTER, CRAIG, WILKINSON, MESSICK, BABCOCK, KUBITSCHEK, FOSTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/23/2009 at 19:34:19

Charles A. Kastler Pioneer Businessman Dies

Funeral services for Charles A. Kastler, 86, long time resident and Eagle Grove, Iowa businessman, were held Tuesday afternoon in the United Methodist Church at 2 o'clock. The services were conducted by the Rev. Marion Blake and the Rev. Donald Forbes, pastor of the church. Interment was in Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove, IA. Mr. Kastler died Saturday, January 8, 1972 in Mercy Hospital, Fort Dodge, Iowa where he had been a patient for a few days. However, he had been in and out of the hospital several times and had surgery during the past year. He is survived by his wife Grace, one brother, Edward Kastler of St. Paul, Minn. and two sisters, Mrs. Carrie Gaster of Fort Dodge and Mrs. Anna Craig of Woolstock. Mr. Kastler was in business in Eagle Grove, Iowa for 54 years. He came to Eagle Grove from Webster City, Iowa on the first of January, 1914, and purchased the Porter Furniture Store and Funeral Home. His partner at that time was Arch Foster, his former employer at Webster City. In 1917, Mr. Kastler became the partner of Adolph Kubitschek when he purchased the interest of Frank Kubitschek and they established the Kubitschek and Kastler Funeral Home. They purchased the late L. B. Middleton's large residential property on West Broadway for their funeral home. Mr. Kubitschek died in 1944 and Mr. Kastler continued in the business until he retired in 1965. He was a member of the Congregational Church and belonged more than 50 years to the following fraternal organizations: IOOF, Masonic Lodges, Order of Eastern Star, White Shrine and Za-Ga Shrine. He was also a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors and Embalmers Assn. and Federated Funeral Directors of America 58 years. He was preceded in death by his first wife Orpha, five sisters and three brothers. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic Lodge held their memorial services at the Kastler-Babcock Funeral Home Sunday and Monday evenings.
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Charles A. Kastler was born September 28, 1885 at Woolstock, Iowa, son of Henry and Louise Marshall Kastler. He grew up in the Woolstock area and attended the Woolstock school. He also attended a Mortuary School in Des Moines. Charles came to Eagle Grove, Iowa from Webster City, Iowa January 1, 1914 and with his former employer. Arch Foster of Webster City, purchased the J. W. Porter Funeral Home and Furniture Store. In 1916 Kastler and Foster sold the business and opened Eagle Grove's first exclusive mortuary. In 1917 he purchased the interest of Frank Kubitschek in the Kubitschek Brothers. He and Adolph Kubitschek were in business together until Kubitschek's death in 1944. Mr. Kastler was in business in Eagle Grove for 54 years. Kastler retired in 1965 and LeRoy Babcock became his partner. Charles Kastler was married to Orpha Boughton June 18, 1911 and they resided in Eagle Grove for 49 years. Following Orpha's death September 2, 1962, Kastler was married to Grace Wilkinson Messick May 17, 1963. He was a member of the Congregational Church of Christ and was a fifty year member of the following organizations: IOOF, Bower Lodge 464 AF & AM, Eagle Grove Chapter 123 RAM, Median Council 26 R & SM, Masonic Low 12, O.E.S., White Shrine of Jerusalem, Mt. Lebanon Commundry at Clarion, Iowa. Charles was also a member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine in Des Moines, Iowa. A member of the Iowa Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, Federated Funeral Directors of America for 58 years and a member of the Golden Rule for over 40 years. Mr. Kastler entered Mercy Hospital January 5 and died there Saturday morning January 8. At the time of his death he was 86 years, 3 months and 10 days of age. Preceding him in death were his five sisters and three brothers. He is survived by his wife Grace, by his brother Edward Kastler, St. Paul, Minn; two sisters, Mrs. Carrie Gaster of Fort Dodge, Iowa and Mrs. Anna Craig of Woolstock. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 11 at 1 PM in the United Methodist Church, Eagle Grove. Rev. Marion Blake and Rev. Donald Forbes officiated and burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove. IOOF services were held at the funeral home at 7 PM Sunday. Masonic services were held at the funeral home at 8 PM Monday.

January 1972