Richard "Dick" Albert Kasting

Richard Albert Kasting (Dick), 101, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky. Born on May 26, 1923, in Seymour, Indiana, he led a remarkable life filled with dedication, passion, and love for his family and community.

A proud Army veteran of World War II, Dick’s service to his country laid the foundation for a life built on discipline, loyalty, and commitment. After his time in the military, he went on to become a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather with a deep love for his family that remained unwavering throughout his long life.

After his military service, Dick attended Purdue University where he played alto sax in their marching band. He also wrestled while there—a pursuit that he obviously enjoyed, as he later served as an assistant wrestling coach while his sons were in junior high school. Even in his later years he remained physically and mentally fit, spending his spare time playing tennis, bridge, and working on his lake house in southern Indiana.

After graduating from Purdue with an engineering degree, Dick joined General Electric (GE) at their headquarters in Schenectady, New York, where he met his future wife, Martha. He and Martha moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked on jet engines, then back to Schenectady, and subsequently to Huntsville, Alabama to work on engines for the Saturn 1B and Saturn V rockets during the Apollo program. The latter of these rockets was used to put the first man on the Moon back in 1969—a feat that has not been duplicated since. When the Apollo program ended, Dick and Martha moved to Louisville, where Dick worked for GE for several more years before joining the Metropolitan Sewer District for the last 20 years of his career. He enjoyed a lengthy retirement in Louisville.

Dick was an inveterate organizer, guiding the Blairwood Senior Men’s Tennis League well into his 90s. He was well known for his social nature, always eager to engage in conversation and share his thoughts with others. As his hearing was poor, it was sometimes difficult to get a word in edgewise! He was an avid reader. He was drawn to science, history, the economy, presidents, and especially to World War II. He enjoyed staying informed, with The Economist and The Wall Street Journal being regular reads. Dick never stopped learning.

Dick's love for life extended to the simple joys, including spending time with his family at the lake house and teaching generations of children to water ski and play Liar’s Dice. Whether relaxing to the strains of his favorite music, like Andre Rieu’s "Last Rose of Summer," or enjoying the outdoors, he found peace and happiness in the company of those he loved. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Dick was preceded in death by his loving wife of 67 years, Martha Fraser Kasting; his parents, Albert Kasting and Edna Droege Kasting; three sisters, Alberta Blaisdel, Doris Meyer, and Lorita Nordsieck; and identical twin brother, Gerald Kasting. He is survived by his three children, Jerry Kasting (Alycia Rozen), Jim Kasting (Sharon), and Sandra Mulders (Richard); five grandchildren, Jeffrey (Nicole), Patrick (Dana), Mark, Nori (Luis), and Jay; eight great-grandchildren, Declan, Miles, Ava, Aubrey, Harrison, Lila, Jack, and Leo; cousin, Robert Kasting; sister-in-law- Belle Kasting, and a host of extended family and close friends.