Kasten, 67, died of lung cancer at her home in Saukville on Thursday, May 17.Mrs. Kasten was born on May 30, 1950, to Harry and Marge Wiegert. According to her family, she enjoyed displaying her creativity through painting, drawing, photography and music. During her childhood, Mrs. Kasten played piano and later in life learned guitar.She volunteered at the Wisconsin Humane Society’s Ozaukee Campus, which was a perfect fit considering she had a love for animals, her family said. Mrs. Kasten is survived by her son Jesse of Saukville; daughter Kittie Kasten of Saukville; brother Don (Robin) Wiegert of El Paso, Texas; brothers-in-law Glen Kasten of West Bend and Gary (Margaret) Kasten of Hiles. She was preceded in death by her husband Clyde, parents, and sister-in-law Rose Marie Kasten.A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday, May 26, at Eernisse Funeral Home in Port Washington. The Rev. Linda Westphal-Buth will officiate. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 10 a.m. Saturday until the service.Interment will be at Immanuel Cemetery in Cedarburg following the service. ...
Eugene 'Euch' Thelen
Jun 3, 2018
Thelen had a deep-seated love of his country.When he was 16, he got his parents’ blessing and enlisted in the U.S. Navy to fight in World War II.He served in the Navy for three years, then left the service for a time but things didn’t work out, his wife Betty said.So he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving for almost 21 years. A veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, he retired as a master sergeant.“He loved it,” his wife said of his military service. “It was hard to be separated, but he enjoyed his work.”Mr. Thelen, who was known as Euch, died Tuesday, May 15, at Cedar Lake Community in West Bend. He was 88.Mr. Thelen was born on June 5, 1929, to Michael and Myrtle Rismeyer Thelen.He met Betty Kolkema of West Bend at a friend’s home while on leave from the Navy, and the two married on Aug. 20, 1949, in Folkston, Ga.After Mr. Thelen retired from the Air Force, the couple moved to Port Washington and later to Grafton, where they built their home.Mr. Thelen worked at Wisconsin Electric Power Co., now We Energies, retiring in 1989 as the lead custodian after 20 years with the company.He enjoyed fishing, both on Lake Michigan and inland lakes, and woodworking.But he especially loved gardening and had a green thumb, his wife said.“He loved planting rose bushes and caring for them,” she said. “He always had roses. He was good at it.”He also enjoyed planting fruit trees around their house, his wife said.“He put a lot of work into it.”Mr. Thelen was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grafton and St. John Lutheran Church in Port Washington, where he was a former elder and member of the Men’s Club.He was also a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Rose-Harms American Legion Post in Grafton.“He was a good, loving man,” his wife said. “He was very friendly and liked to visit with people.”Mr. Thelen was a polite man who was known for his good manners, his wife added.“He w...
