Stephen M. Kasten

Stephen Mark Kasten, age 69, of Appleton, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2016 at his home after a two month battle with lung cancer. Steve was born on April 25, 1947 in Appleton, son of the late Norman and Joyce (Ames) Kasten. He graduated from Appleton High School in 1965, before entering the United States Navy in 1967. He was proud to be the only enlisted instructor at the Surgical Technicians School on Oaknoll Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. After serving his country, he returned to school earning his B.B.A. in marketing from UW-Oshkosh in 1983. Steve worked for the United States Postal Service as a letter carried for 20 years, retiring in 2004. He was also a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 700 in Neenah. On November 15, 1976, in a ceremony in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Steve married his “fabulous” wife Linda Krueger. They were married for 29 years before her passing in 2005. They were fortunate to have the gift of time and enough common sense to enjoy each minute with family and friends.
Steve enjoyed the outdoors; especially hunting and fishing. He also loved to bowl and play golf on the H.T.H league (special friends) at High Cliff for 39 years. Steve's other love was for his “Beast”, a Harley he rode for over 10 years.
Steve is survived by his siblings: Vance (Janilyn) Cope-Kasten and Katie (Si) Matthies; his nieces and nephews: Ben (Leigh) Kasten, Cali Kasten, Silas Matthies, Gretchen (Jack) Walton, and Hunter Matthies. He is further survived by Linda's very special family; Kathy (Pat) Coonen and their children: Kari (Aaron) Peterson, Amy (Ryan) Didreckson, Katie (Kurt) Fecteau and Emily (Cameron) Vander Heiden; Gary Krueger; and Sandy (Don) Jacobson and their children: Todd (Kerri) Jacobson and Jenny (Mick) Gilbert; as well as his very special cousin and caregiver Susan Kurey. He was preceded in death by his wife: Linda and his parents and parents-in-law.
A gathering of family and friends will take place from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2016 at the WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME, 537 N. Superior St. Appleton. His inurnment and full military honors will be held at Riverside Cemetery on Saturday, July 16, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Online condolences may be expressed at www.wichmannfargo.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Cherry Meadows Hospice.
Steve would like to thank Susan Kurey, Kathy Coonen, Gary Krueger, Vance Cope-Kasten, Becky Knutzen and Brenda Chaet for helping him fulfill his last wish of being able to stay at home. His family would also like to thank ThedaCare at home hospice nurse Christina for appreciating Steve's mojo.
“I spent life with wonderful family and so many friends. It was so very much fun!”