Jerry Alan Kastner, 57

Our beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, Jerry Alan Kastner, geared-up for his next adventure on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at the age of 57. Jerry was born in Springfield, MN on September 16, 1966, to Kenneth and Laurice (Weber) Kastner.

Music was always pivotal in Jerry’s stories and adventures. Stacks of LP’s, cassettes, CD’s, and hard drives of hard rock music played his soundtrack. With the radio set, he attended school at Willmar, University of Minnesota Duluth, and Duluth Technical College. He taught us computers, programming, and generally how to be big nerds along the way. Building amazing marvels for this world at work and home, he was so capable, smart, and shared what he knew.

Drumming on the steering wheel, the riffed-out songs filled the air and living spaces in Duluth, Chaska, and Jordan with his former wife Cindy and son Daniel Kastner. He found and built community and deep connections in his life. If you rang him up, he was likely hatching a plan for the next big adventure, deer hunting trip, live rock concert, or hang. He’d snowmobile with friends, family, and volunteer with Shakopee’s River Valley Trail Blazers.

Jerry’s spirit and personality were louder than a solo from a wall of guitar amps. He was an absolute riot to be around. There’s a high likelihood that you shared a great party, a grand expedition or thrill, and a belly laugh with him. We swear he was a jungle gym and half of the Kastner children were up on his tall shoulders or swinging around his arms with strength and gentle care. He was a wild man, and loved chewing up the country on his Harley Davidson Softail Custom with his friends. 

The rock ballads brought Jerry and fiancé Annie LaCanne to his beautiful lake home in Waterville, MN, in June 2010. He loved the sunsets and boating days on Sakatah Lake. Jerry embodied living it up, having a great time, and not sweating the small stuff. He always brought the party: hinging the truck doors wide open and putting on something good. When the battery would cut out, he’d promptly exclaim “where’d the tunes go!?” When we hear your favorite songs, we will remember you. We love and miss you, Dad.

Jerry is survived by his son, Daniel (Emily) Kastner; grandson, Marlon; former wife, Cindy Pelzel-Olson; fiancé, Annie LaCanne; and her children, Kirsten LaCanne and Derek LaCanne; parents, Kenneth and Laurice Kastner; siblings, Kevin (Teresa) Kastner, Kurt (Carmen) Kastner, Laurie (Dan) Longsdorf, Jeff (Colette) Kastner, Lisa (Tim) Heinecke; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.  

Visitation was held on Sunday, November 26, 2023, at the Waterville Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral and Cremation service. Visitation continued one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Funeral service for Jerry was at 2 p.m. on Monday, November 27, 2023, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in New Ulm.