James "Jim" E. Kastner

Jim's family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, June 25, 2020, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. Memorials to the MercyOne Des Moines Foundation can be left at the funeral home.

   Jim, the son of Ernest and Vaundeen (Pack) Kastner, was born December 17, 1955, in Newton. He graduated from Newton High School in 1974.  He attended Iowa State University where he received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  He also received a master’s degree in Vocational Rehabilitation from Drake University.  For the last several years, he had managed the media department for the VA Hospital in Des Moines.  Prior to that, he had been an adjunct instructor at DMACC and a program manager at Progress Industries.  Jim enjoyed sports, music, playing Dungeons and Dragons, reading—especially about history, fishing, and golfing. 

   Those left to honor Jim’s memory include his son, Dylan Kastner of Newton; his siblings, Helen Richard of Spring Lake Park, MN and Don (Shirley) Kastner of Blaine, MN; and his nieces and nephews: Eric Richard, A.J. Richard, Tony Kastner, and Tracy Stai.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Annetta Kastner.

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