Roy Kasten Remembered

(November 2007)

On October 19, 2007, the world lost a special person and Henry Shaw Cactus Society lost a good friend. To use Reneé Jordan’s words: “It is with a heavy heart that I tell you our good friend and longtime member Roy Kasten has passed away.”

Roy David Kasten graduated from the Lutheran Medical School of Nursing in 1977 and worked as a registered nurse at St. Anthony’s Hospital for 27 years.

HSCSS members will remember Roy as he passed around various plants of the month and brag plants so all could get a closer look. All enjoyed Roy’s comments, always clever and upbeat. Roy was greatly missed when health issues prevented him from attending meetings.

Roy Kasten served on the HSCSS board of directors and opened his home to members for a society social event. He was also known for creating imaginative dish gardens with cacti and succulents for the hospital gift shop as well as other club members. See the Member Photos page for a few examples of Roy’s dish gardens and other photos taken by Roy.

A memorial service was held at the Kutis Afton Chapel on October 27. St. Anthony’s Hospital funded the installment of a weeping redbud tree in honor of Roy at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Its pendulous branches can be found behind the drinking fountain in the southwest corner of the Japanese Garden.