Obituary of Lawrence G. Kast

Lawrence G. Kast, age 73 of Yankton passed away on Monday, November 10, 2014 surrounded by his family at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, after a lengthy illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM, Thursday, November 13, 2014 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Yankton with Rev. Ken Lulf celebrating and Rev. Tim Lange con-celebrating. Burial will be immediately following the Mass at St. Boniface Cemetery, Menominee, NE with military graveside rites by the Crofton American Legion Post #128 Honor Guard, Crofton, NE and Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post #791 Honor Guard, Yankton, SD. Visitations will begin at 5 PM, Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton with a 7 PM rosary followed by a 7:30 PM Scripture service. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Lawrence, son of Julius and Josephine (Schieffer) Kast was born on February 7, 1941. He grew up in Menominee, NE and attended school at St. Boniface through the 8th grade. After graduating from Crofton High School in 1959, he was drafted into the US Army and served for two years. He spent six months in Vietnam working in the 87th Engineering Battalion to construct the airstrip in Cam Ranh Bay. On February 5, 1966 he married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Schaefer. They were blessed with three daughters: Susan, Christy and Sharon. Larry started his career as a journeyman plumber working for Redlinger Brothers. In the late 1970's, while working for plumbing contractor, Kenning & Reil Inc., Larry was the plumbing foreman for the construction of the Dakota Dome. His fondest memory was "riding the roof" as they inflated the roof of the air-supported structure. Larry ended his 40-year plumbing career with Fejfar Plumbing in Yankton, SD. Larry had a great appreciation for God's creations and was most at home in the outdoors. He had a passion for hunting and fishing and even enjoyed teaching the Hunter's Safety Course to young outdoor enthusiasts. Larry enjoyed visiting with everyone and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Larry was an active member of the VFW Post 791, American Legion and The Catholic Order of Foresters. Larry served as sexton for St. Boniface Church, Menominee, NE for several years. He was very proud of taking care of the grounds of the cemetery and could give you a little history of most of the people buried there. Grateful to have shared his life is his wife Shirley of Yankton, SD, his daughters: Susan (Randy) Uken of Brandon, SD, Christy Carda of Yankton, SD and Sharon (John) Kraft of Yankton, SD. He will always be lovingly remembered by his grandchildren: Cody Uken, Jack and Piper Carda, Ryan and Tyler Kraft. Also surviving him are his siblings: Ron (Diane) Kast of Fordyce, NE, Charlene Johnson of Papillion, NE, Jolene (Frank) Kralicek of Yankton, SD and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Josephine, father-in-law, Sylvester Schaefer, and a brother-in-law, Bruce Johnson.