Thomas James Kasenow

Sun Prairie- Tom Kasenow, age 78, died on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at the HospiceCare Center, Fitchburg.  Tom was born on March 14, 1931 in St. Paul, MN the son of Frank & Catherine (Bender) Kasenow.  He graduated from Johnson High School in 1949 and for years was a loyal attendee of his high school reunions. During high school he worked as a life guard, was an active photographer and competed on the track & field team specializing in the sprints. Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1949 and became a Hospital Corpsman.  He proudly served his country for 24 years including tours in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Rhode Island, Virginia, Scotland, California, Hawaii and Florida.  He retired from the Navy in 1974 and moved to Sun Prairie.  He stayed in touch with his shipmates by being a member of the USS Joseph Strauss Association.  In 1957 he married Constance Koepf, who passed away in 1963. After his first wife's death while stationed in Scotland, he met the love of his life and was united in marriage to Rita Deane. They were married for 37 years until she passed away in 2002. After retiring from the navy he started a  second career,  becoming a representative of Vestal Laboratories (which later became Merck Pharmaceuticals).  He did this for the next 14 years. During this time period in the early 1980's he also helped to found the Sun Prairie EMT program and served both as an EMT and an instructor.  Even after retiring from Merck, Tom worked several part-time jobs before he completely retired in 2001.  Tom loved to travel. He had stories that would never end on the places he saw during his navy career and in private life.  Tom and Rita traveled to Jamaica several times, New Orleans, Puerto Rico, Scotland & San Francisco.  He also took several trips with his daughter, Elaine, to Jamaica, Florida and most recently on a cruise. Tom was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  He is survived by his children, Christine (Steven) Vickers, Portland, OR, Mark Kasenow, Madison and Elaine (Jamie) Olstadt, Sun Prairie; his grandchildren, Halle Olstadt, Sun Prairie, Matthew Rasey, Madison, Joshua (Chantal) Rasey, El Paso, TX and Daniel (Brandy) Vickers, Portland, OR; his great-granddaughters, Kimberly, Makayla and Emily Rasey, El Paso;  his sister, Lorraine (John) Knapp, Maplewood, MN; numerous nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.  Besides his wives he was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Francis Kasenow and daughter-in-law, Kari Kasenow.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Catholic Church, 221 Columbus St., Sun Prairie, with Msgr. Duane R. Moellenberdt presiding. A luncheon at the Cannery Grille will follow service. Burial will be held in Sacred Hearts Cemetery, Sun Prairie with full military rites.   A visitation will be held on Monday, April 6, 2009 from 5-8:00 p.m. at the Cress Funeral Home, Sun Prairie. The family would like to thank the physicians and staff at St. Mary's Hospital, Dr. Schug, Dr. Snyder and  the HospiceCare staff for the respect and loving care they gave Tom.  Memorials would be appreciated in Tom's name to be made to the HospiceCare or the Salvation Army.  ""Grandpa is now happy in heaven.  He is dancing and twirling with Grandma Rita.""   Cress Funeral & Cremation Service 1310 Emerald Terrace Sun Prairie, WI www.cressfuneralservice.com