Howard Kasdorf, 79

Howard Jay Kasdorf, age 79, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday, April 7, 2012, at home surrounded by his loving family after a short terminal illness.

He was born Feb. 18, 1933, in Sturgis, a son to the late John Fredrick William and Lucile (Gross) Kasdorf.

Howard went to country schools from kindergarten until entering Sturgis High School for the 9th grade. He was very athletic and lettered in football, wrestling, and track and participated in the Mile Run at the state meet. He graduated SHS with the class of 1951.

During high school Howard worked for Frohriep Brothers gas station and Reith-Riley Construction as a flagman. After graduation he started working for F.W. Casselmans and in September 1952 he married Grace Prestidge.

In March of 1953, he entered the U.S. Army and was part of the 507th Signal Company which went to Korea in 1953 where he was doing telephone installation and repair.

After the service he attended Tri-State College and then the Milwaukee School of Engineering, where he graduated in 1961. The family then moved to Phoenix, Ariz., for a year and back to Sturgis where he re-joined F.W. Casselmans as a sales engineer in 1963. He became part owner in of Casselman’s in 1970.

Howard was a 50-year Rotarian member, on the bank board of directors, involved in Jr. Achievement, and member of the American Legion.

He enjoyed camping with family and friends, working in his wood shop, sailing, fishing, hunting and being outdoors. He enjoyed spending time out back on his farm on the tractor, and spending time with his family especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving are his wife, Grace; four children, Sherry (Bruce) Grant, Howard Lee Kasdorf, JoEllen (Tom) Adams, and Jeffrey (Linda) Kasdorf; grandchildren, Shay (Spiro) Kandis, Ben Veasy and Amber, LaTasha (Brandon) Watson, Shavona (Josh) Anders, Sarah Grant and Kris Pitel, Kaylee Waldron and her mother Kathy Braymer, Matt Kasdorf, Kristi Kasdorf, Gabe Adams, Mike Adams, Kyle Adams, Kira Kasdorf, Kaden Kasdorf, and Mya Kasdorf; great-grandchildren, Asher Adams, Riley Kandis, Gabe Anders, Elijah Anders, Camille Pitel, Jayden Kandis, and Tyler Veasy; brothers, Allen (Carol) Kasdorf and John Kasdorf and Judy Pappas; sister, Janet Dillivan and Bob Kline; and a dear family friend Larry Coohon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, William Kasdorf in 2009.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 2– 4 p.m. and 6–8 p.m. Tuesday, at the Hackman Family Funeral Home – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091.

Services celebrating the life of Howard Kasdorf will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home with The Rev. Deb Johnson, First United Methodist Church, officiating.

Graveside services and interment will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery with full military honors conferred by the U.S. Army Honor Guard and the Capt. John J. Kelley V.F.W. Post #1355.

The family suggest memorial donations be directed to Camp Fort Hill, 310 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091.

His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.