Chaplain's Corner
Dear Fellow Members 44th Engineer Battalion Association;
44th Engineer Battalion Association
Fall News Message 2024
Greetings!
Hopefully this message finds you all in the best of health doing this beautiful end of summer days. If you missed it we had a blessed reunion in Huntsville Alabama. Even though there was bad weather to the South and West of us it didn’t rain until the last day we were there.
We had the opportunity to do a memorial service for two of our members that passed this year. Mr. Duane H. Kasten from Springfield, MN, passed on Friday April 5, 2024 at the age of 89; according to the President he use to always send in his proxy early in order to participate in the reunion even though his health was declining. Mr. Paul Marrero from New Bern, NC passed on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at the age of 91, He was born in Brooklyn New York. According to the President his wife would read the News Letters to him which she said he enjoyed. Please keep these families in your prayers. It is during these times that a family needs our support.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18.
I would like to share that I will be going on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC on the 18th of October 2024. I’m looking forward to the trip and seeing all that I can. Hope to take lots of pictures and share with you all on my return, God’s will.
John 5:24-25
“Very truly I tell you; whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life”
Bishop DR. Johnny L. Hicks
Chaplain
44th Engineer Battalion Association
Obituaries
Duane Hilbert Kasten, age 89 of Springfield, passed away Friday, April 5, 2024 at New Ulm Medical Center. Memorial Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Springfield. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 12, 2024 at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home and will continue for one hour prior to the service at church on Saturday. Burial will be in the Belview Cemetery. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Duane Hilbert Kasten was born December 3, 1934 in Echo Township, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, to Hilbert and Luella (Fischer) Kasten. He was baptized December 23, 1934 and confirmed April 10, 1949, both at Peace Lutheran Church in Echo. He graduated from Echo Public School in 1953. Duane enlisted in the US Army in 1953 and he served his country in Korea and the states. He was honorably discharged in 1956. On October 1, 1960, Duane married Donna Boelter at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Fernando, MN. Duane worked at a couple machine shops in the Twin Cities, then National Air Lines in Las Vegas, NV for a few years. He then was owner/operator of C4th and Lamberton Liquor Stores from 1972 until 1989, and finally worked for the City of Long Prairie until his retirement in 2000. He was always active in the church, served on the West Central Food and Beverage Association, and was Past Director of the MN Licensed Beverage Association and was inducted into their Hospy Hall of Fame in 2000. Duane loved time spent with family and friends, gardening, music, and Polka dancing.
Duane is survived by his wife, Donna; children: Kurtis (Vicky) Kasten, and Kerri (Roger) Zimmermann; grandchildren: Amanda & Mitchell Kasten, Kameron Iverson, and Kegan, Ryon, and Zakary Zimmermann; great-grandchildren: Scarlett Kasten and Douglas Iverson; siblings: Dennis Kasten, Janet Anderson, Marilyn (Arnold) Tietz, Irene Abrahamson (special friend Steve Griffin). He is preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Lorraine Kasten and brother-in-law Carlyle “Butch” Anderson.