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
So sorry for your loss. He was a great man and I appreciate everything he did for me.
What a great Pastor, man and friend. I will forever be grateful for his acceptance, counsel, wisdom, and advice he so willingly gave.
You will be missed by many.
My sincere condolences to the family.
Alice, what a wonderful husband you had! I have appreciated your faithfulness to the Versailles community that you were a part of in the 1950’s. Still remember your being in Miss Lampton’s 6th grade classroom ( 1956–57. May our Lord and memories comfort you, your family and friends during this time.
Alice, you are prayerfully on my mind as I ask God to give you the peace and comfort as only He can give. What a devoted life from both Dennis and you serving Christ and others. I can hear you even now playing a grand piece on the organ in tribute. May you know His presence, His Blessings, His peace in the grieving process.
I am heartbroken for my loss of Pastor Kastens whom I dearly loved but what a glorious day it was for him when he came face to face with the Lord. Can you imagine the things they had to talk about???? Pastor will forever be in our hearts and souls until we all meet again. Few men could ever accomplish what he did in his lifetime. Rest in peace. Every time I enter Peace Lutheran Church you will be thought of and missed.
Alice and Family, sincere condolences for this great loss.
Pastor Kastens was and will always be remembered as a true servant of Christ. God used him and his talents to impact so many in every area of life. From cradle to the grave; he was there spreading the Gospel and ministering to those in need.
I share your joy and your sadness, I lost my Judy just two years ago. May Gods grace be with you!
Alice,
My heart will be forever grateful to Pastor Kastens. It’s because of him I came back to church after my son Billy was born and we became members of Good Shepherd, Lutheran Church in Collinsville in 1983. Not only did he bring me back to church after being absent from the Lutheran Church for almost 7 yesrs he brought my dad back to church as well. What an amazing mentor and Pastor he was to his flock. Growing up, my son had to sit in the front row right in front of the pulpit every Sunday to hear Pastor Kastens preach his sermon. I know you are in the arms of Jesus right now. Pastor Kastens, rightfully so, good and faithful servant. Alice our prayers are with you and your family. Sending our love.
What a wonderful man! I will remember leading the German language Christmas service at Peace. I hope this tradition continues.
Pastor was always spiritually present in the Breitenfeld family! On top of spiritually present, he also was present to many joyous and even hard occasions. This included my graduation, my daughter’s baptism, my baptism, both the passing of Marvin and Helen Breitenfeld. May the lord embrace you pastor!
Alice, my heart aches for you and your children as you mourn the passing of Pastor. He gets to celebrate Easter in Heaven with Jesus!
Well done, good and faithful servant.
What a wonderful pastor and friend
The good lord will have another shepherd to guide his flock in heaven