Keith Kastens

Keith Kastens, age 85, of Merna, Nebraska died Monday July 14, 2014 at Heritage Hall Care Center in Broken Bow. Funeral services will be Friday July 18th at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow with Minister Kathy Salts and Milly Winkler officiating. Visitation will be Thursday July 17th at Govier Brothers Mortuary from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Burial will be in the Merna Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Our Savior Lutheran Church. Keith Dale Kastens was born January 13, 1929 on the family farm west of Merna, to Herman and Ruby (Patton) Kastens. He attended elementary school west of Merna and finished his schooling at Merna High School graduating in 1946. After high school, Keith worked various job until he married Marie Hirsch on February 5, 1950. To this union two sons were born, Larry and Garry. He worked for Don and Lois McFate until his desire for farming drew him back to the family farm in 1954 where he and Marie farmed and raised their boys. In the early 1970's, Larry and Garry joined their dad in the farming operation. The couple continued living on the family farm until he and Marie moved to Heritage Hall in Broken Bow in 2013. Keith and Marie along with friends and neighbors Verne and Helen Reynolds, purchased the Carl Roos Elevator in Anselmo, Nebraska in 1967. A few years later, The couples had the opportunity to buy the Carl Roos Elevator in Merna, Nebraska, later selling it to the Farmers Cooperative. The couples worked together until Keith and Marie bought Verne and Helen's share of Anselmo Elevator in 1976; all the while, he and the boys continued to expand the farming operation. Keith and Marie continued to operate the elevator in Anselmo and also purchased Scott's Market in Anselmo which kept them both on the run. In 1996, Keith and Marie sold Anselmo Elevator to the Farmers Cooperative, at that time Keith also retired from the farming operation when Kastens & Sons became Kastens Farms. He went on to manage Kastens Market until the couple sold it in November 2004. After selling the store, Keith semi retired to where he was born. He was content working around the home, mowing weeds, tinkering on small things, spending time with his growing family and even lending a hand with the Kastens Farms, farming operation until his health failed in June 2013. Keith was also a member of the Broken Bow Elks Lodge #1688, a member of the Custer Chorus and a large part of the Big Sky Jubilee for many years. Keith is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Marie, of Merna, sons Larry and wife Linda of Anselmo, and their children Lori (Shannon) Klein, Lonnie (Carmen) Kastens, Lynnett (Brandon) Paneitz and son Garry and wife Glenda, of Anselmo and their children Matt (Marci) Kastens , Jodi (Vinton) Johnson, and Kelli (Brandon) Brueggemann . He is also survived by 13 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister Lois and her husband Richmond Case.