The Rev. Dr. Dennis A. Kastens
May 10, 1939 – March 30, 2026
Dennis Allen Kastens was born May 10, 1939, near Ludell, Kansas to Harry and Paula née Neuhart Kastens. On May 13, 1939, he was baptized by Pastor Schmidt of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ludell, where he later also confirmed his faith, March 29, 1953. After public school attendance through 5th grade, he was a student for grades 6-8 at Trinity Lutheran parochial school. In 1957, he graduated from Atwood Community High School, Atwood, Kansas.
He then attended St. John’s College, Winfield, Kansas, and Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, prior to enrollment at Concordia Seminary, Saint Louis, Missouri, where he graduated with an M.Div in 1965 and received an honorary Doctor of Letters (Litt, D.,) in 2000.
On June 12, 1965, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran, Saint Louis, Missouri, he married Alice Christine Nobe with whom he enjoyed 60 years in the nuptial estate. Into their home came two children, who with their families survive. They are John W. (Carmen) Kastens and Mark A.E. (Amy) Kastens. Also surviving are the grandchildren: Jacob (Lacey) Kastens, Grace (Ryan) Boatright, Miriam Kastens, Joshua (Christina) Kastens, and Hannah Kastens, alongside the great-grandchildren: Makenzie Smith, James Kastens, Matthew Kastens, and Mabel Boatright. Besides his wife Alice, he further is survived by his brothers and sister and their spouses: Larry (Deanna) Kastens, June Hesterman, Gary (Dianna) Kastens, and Terry (Marilyn) Kastens, as well as his brothers- and sisters-in-law: Niles Niermeier, Charles (Esther) Nobe, and Paul (Angela) Nobe, alongside other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Jayne Niermeier, brother-in-law Marvin Hesterman, his godson Jordan Niermeier, and his nephew Kevin Nobe.
From 1965-1970, he was pastor at Christ Lutheran – Hilo, Hawaii, where he oversaw relocation of the parish campus, erection of parsonage, education building, worship sanctuary, and opened an Early Childhood Center. From Hilo he also operated a preaching station in Puako, Hawaii and oversaw the launch of full-time pastoral ministry at Emmanuel Lutheran – Wailuku/Kahului, Maui in 1968.
From 1970-1979, he served at Our Savior Lutheran – Aiea, Hawaii, where he opened an Early Childhood Center, founded an Elementary K-8 Lutheran School, erected a parsonage and the construction of a three-story Elementary School facility.
From 1979-1992, he was Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran in Collinsville, Illinois, where an Early Childhood Center and Elementary School were launched which grew to 450 pupils, operative on two campuses.
He was Vice-President of the Southern Illinois District of the LCMS, from 1988-1992, having served earlier on various District auxiliaries and boards.
During these years, he was a contributor to Portals of Prayer, The Lutheran Witness, wrote curriculum materials for Synod’s midweek religious education series, and had several sermon books published.
He was a translating attaché with Dr. Dale Meyer of the Lutheran Hour during the early 1990’s with travels taking him to the former East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Russia. He served on the East Bloc Commission with the Board for Mission services of the LCMS during that time. A highlight during such travels, in view of being bilingual, was his preaching at the church in Wechold, Germany, the ancestral parish where three of his esteemed forebears served as Lutheran pastors.
From 1992-1995 he served as Administration Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran – Colorado Spring, Colorado where he oversaw its Fellowship Hall Renovation.
From 1995–2020, he served as Senior Pastor at Peace Lutheran Church, Saint Louis, Missouri, where he remained until retirement. During his incumbency there, he promoted the enhancement of its Early Childhood Program to include infants from ages six weeks to five years, oversaw the purchase of six surrounding residences (1995-2005) to enlarge the Peace campus, erection of its Family Life Center (including gymnasium) in 2003, and dedication of its (300-400 seat) worship sanctuary and 38-rank tracker organ in 2014.
Upon retirement in 2020, he became Emeritus Pastor of Peace and undertook visitation of its home-bound members and assisted the congregation in other ways.
He passed away on March 30, 2026, at the age of 86, after a brief illness.
He will be interred at St. Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri.
The family requests memorials be made to:
Peace Lutheran Church
737 Barracksview Road
St. Louis, MO 63125
or
Concordia Seminary-St. Louis
801 Seminary Place
St. Louis, MO 63105
In lieu of flowers
Visitation at Peace Lutheran Church, Tuesday April 7, 3:00 – 8:00 pm, and also on Wednesday April 8, 9:00 am until funeral service at 10:30 am. The service will be livestreamed at Peace Lutheran STL Youtube