Richard Kastner

Dr. Richard Kastner, 79, Elbow Lake, died Wednesday, August 8, 2012, at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND. The funeral Mass will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012, at St. Olaf's Catholic Church in Elbow Lake with Fr. Ron Schmelzer and Fr. Andrew Marthaler officiating. Burial will be in St. Loretto's Catholic Cemetery, Elbow Lake. Visitation is at St. Olaf's Catholic Church on Sunday from 4-7pm, with a prayer service at 6:30 pm, and will resume one hour before the service on Monday. Richard Sheldon Kastner was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on July 25, 1933, to Leo and Ruth (Hurst) Kastner. Following his graduation from St. Cloud Tech in 1951, he entered the US Navy. Dick was honorably discharged on June 4, 1954, and began attending St. John's University. On June 29, 1957, Dick was united in marriage to Mildred Schwankl at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids. He transferred to Northwestern Chiropractic College and graduated in 1958. Dick and Millie moved to Elbow Lake in 1959 when he bought the chiropractic business from Chester Anderson. He was still seeing patients up to the day before his surgery. Dick was an active member of the community and was involved over the years with the Jaycees, Lions Club, American Legion, St. Olaf's church council, hospital board, Lakeland Mental Health, mayor of Elbow Lake from 1965 to 1973, and in 1974, was elected as a Grant County Commissioner and served for 32 years. He was one of the founders of Prime West and West Central Community Action. His hobby was carpentry, and he used his skills throughout the community. His detailed work can be found at St. Olaf's Catholic Church, the Grant County Courthouse, the hospital, and many of the buildings in Elbow Lake. Dick loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Mildred; children and their families: Lisa Klaahsen of Farmington and her children Ryan (Jen) Klaahsen and their son Peyton; Jesse Klaahsen and his children Austin, Caleb, Elizabeth and Parker; Joel (Amanda) Klaahsen and their children Cole, Brooklynn and Kyle; and Tracy (fiancé' Shain) Klaahsen and her children Austin, Tyler and Alexa; Lorna (Tim) Johnson of Elbow Lake and their children Heather (Shawn) Carlson, Adam and Hillary Johnson; Howard Kastner (fiancée' Ramona Dittmer) of New Ulm and her children Christopher and Kaylee Dittmer; Michael (Cynthia) Kastner of Elbow Lake and their son Kyler; Lynda (John) Imholte of St. Paul and their children Matt, Jack and Hailey Imholte; Liane (Wayne) Mauch of Mantador, ND and their children Ricky, Treyton and Taylor Mauch; and Lori Kastner of Elbow Lake. Other survivors include Dick's brother Tom (Connie) Kastner of River Falls, WI, and his sister Diane (David) Buzzell of Plymouth, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Linda Paulos, and his father- and mother-in-law Wilfred and Alma Schwankl.

Funeral Home: Erickson-Smith Funeral Home - Elbow Lake 116 1st Street NE Elbow Lake, MN US 56531

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Previous Events

Visitation
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Service
Monday, August 13, 2012
cemetery
Monday, August 13, 2012