Edward James Kastanek

Kastanek, Edward James
Edward James Kastanek, age 98, passed away at his home in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, on Saturday, October 24, 2015.  He was born on September 11, 1917, to James and Anna (Odvody) Kastanek, on a farm near Friend, Nebraska.After graduating from Wilber, Nebraska, High School in May, 1936, Ed worked as a school teacher and farmer.  He met the love of his life, Evelyn Vlasak, in 1941 at her cousin’s wedding dance.  They were married on May 4, 1944, and celebrated over 58 years together before Evelyn’s death in 2003.In June, 1942, Ed enlisted in the Air Cadet Program (Reserve) before being called to active duty in February, 1943.   During his time of military training in the United States, he attended the University of Nebraska and the College of Mines and Technology in Michigan.  He was deployed in August, 1944 from New Jersey and sent to England to be assigned to the Eighth Air Force 493rd Bomb Group.While on active duty during World War II, Ed was a 1st Lt. Navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress in the Eighth Air Force.  He completed 35 missions over Germany, with a total mission flight time of 253 hours.  Ed received the Air Medal with three Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters and a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster.
After discharge from active duty on October 6, 1945, Ed worked at a variety of jobs:  manager of a Firestone store, farmer, and land surveyor in Saline County, Nebraska.In 1955, Ed and Evelyn and their three children, Eugene, Eileen, and Kenneth, moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Ed began working at the Aeronautical Charting and Information Center.  During his 25-year career there he managed a large team of people who produced aeronautical charts for various government agencies, including NASA, which used the charts for the first moon landings.Upon retirement, Ed and Evelyn moved to Rio Rancho, New Mexico.  During their 26 years of retirement, they traveled to Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii, enjoyed touring national parks in their motor home¸ and went on several cruises with Ed’s sisters, Kelsey and Dorothy, and their husbands. Ed is survived by his three children, Eugene (Jean) Kastanek, Eileen Kastanek Reed, and Kenneth Kastanek; his grandchildren, Greg (Jennifer) Reed,
Kevin Kastanek, Patrick (Nancy) Kastanek, and Amanda (Quintin) Nadig; his great-grandchildren, Matthew Reed, Cameron Reed, Emily Kastanek, Kristin Kastanek, Kaitlyn Kastanek, Cody Kastanek, Anders Kastanek, Carsen Kastanek, Grant Nadig, and Rockwell Nadig; his great-great grandchildren, Johnny Moreno and Dililah Reed; two sisters, Kelsey Yeck and Dorothy Christian; and numerous nieces and nephews.Ed was preceded in death by his spouse, Evelyn (Vlasak) Kastanek; grandson, Cale Kastanek; brothers, Melvin Kastanek and Jimmy Kastanek; and parents, James and Anna (Odvody) Kastanek. A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 30, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Daniels Family Funeral Services, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, New Mexico.  Interment will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 N. Guadalupe Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Eighth Air Force Historical Society, P.O. Box 60369, Savannah, GA  31420-0369. To view information or leave a condolence, please visit www.danielsfuneral.com  
Daniels Family Funeral Services
4310 Sara Road SE
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
505-892-9920