Obit: Kerestes, Joan (1929 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Cesafsky, Connell, Esser, Felix, Graski, Kastel, Kastel-Avre, Kerestes, Klapperich, Meilleer, Schwellenbach, Spath

----Source: The Plombon Funeral Home (Stanley, WI) 3/07/2018

Kerestes, Joan (Spath) Kastel (22 JUL 1929 - 5 MAR 2018)

Joan Spath was born to Fred and Emma (Esser) Spath in Waukesha, Wisconsin on July 22, 1929.

They lived a brief time in Tony, Wisconsin before moving to Stanley, Wisconsin. She attended St Anne Catholic Grade School and graduated from Stanley High School.

Joan married Sylvester “Sonny” Kastel on July 29, 1947. Together they raised four children on a dairy farm on County Road O, just west of Stanley. Joan loved her life on the farm. Joan enjoyed
being socially active. She was a member of the Marburn Club, Saint Anne’s Altar Society, and Womens’ Club. In more recent years, Joan regularly joined her friends for morning coffee, Red
Hats society, playing cards, and swimming in the Stanley pool.

After Sonny passed away, Joan took care of her mother and enjoyed the companionship of a German foreign exchange student, Casey Meilleer. Joan and Casey have kept in contact and visited each other. Casey’s most recent visit was for Joan’s 85th birthday. Joan had a long-term friendship with Ben Schwellenbach of Neillsville, Wisconsin. Together they enjoyed camping, fishing, and dancing.

Joan met Reverend Louis Kerestes and they married on April 21, 2001. Louis is a retired Lutheran Minister and Joan was active in her Catholic faith. Joan and Louis enjoyed dancing, their church activities, and most of all, their families. Joan loved her family and treasured spending time with them and graciously serving many meals. She also enjoyed her travels, both
in the United States and abroad. Some of her trips included Greece, Ireland (kissing the Blarney Stone), Mexico, Italy, Germany, and religious sites including Fatima in Portugal.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, infant son Joseph Kastel, infant granddaughter Teresa Cesafsky, and spouse Sylvester Kastel.

Joan is survived by her husband, Reverend Louis Kerestes, her four children, Sylvan “Woody” Kastel (Joan Klapperich) of Holcombe, Wisconsin, Judy (Dick) Connell of Iowa Falls, Iowa,
Nancy (Mike) Kastel-Avre of Cambridge, Minnesota, and Ruth (Shaun) Graski of Amery, Wisconsin, 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at Holy Family Catholic Church-Stanley with Father William Felix officiating. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4-8 PM on Friday at the Plombon Funeral Home with a 7 PM Legion of Mary Rosary and Saturday morning at the funeral home from 9AM until time of departure to church.