James Kasinger

James David (JD) Kasinger Sr., 83, of Michigan City, passed away Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at Northwest Health, LaPorte surrounded by his somewhat dysfunctional family.

He was born, August 15, 1937 in Truman, Arkansas to Elmer and Freddie Louis (Perkins) Kasinger. He was the oldest of four children:  Elmer C (Peggy) Kasinger Jr., Anna Louise Hicks and Doris Ellouise (Joe) Silakowski.

On December 25, 1956 he married Linda Lou (Keeler).  Together they had four children; Delona (Roger) Beadles, Geta (Ernest) Thomas of Arkansas, James “Casey” (Clessie) Kasinger Jr. and Elmer “Buddy” (Norma) Kasinger.

He was the official proud “Papa” of 10 grandchildren; but most of the county called him Papa.  He always connected with his grandchildren and asked lots of nosy questions of every one of them.  He knew and had good relationships with his 20 great grandchildren.

Anyone who knew JD would not want to pull his finger, never offer him a potato with skin on it, or heaven forbid a bowl of pasta.  It was always amusing to have someone offer him a Coke because without fail he would adamantly claim he’d “rather suck on an exhaust pipe than drink a Coke! He was a Pepsi man to the end.

From a young age he had a love of cars (especially Volkswagen Bugs from the 60’s), motorcycles and garages.  He always wanted to learn how to fly so in 1954 he joined the U.S. Air Force.  He never got the chance to fly a plane in the military, but boy did he have a gross medic story that he told anyone who would listen! Later he pursued his pilot’s license at the Joe Phillip’s airport where he had an interesting late-night run in with Bill Haley and his Comets over the FM radio, which nearly made him take an impromptu skydiving trip.  In 1981 at the age of 44 years old he was tricked into joining the Army National Guard with his son Casey.  Casey soon went Active-Duty Army, but JD stayed in The Guard until 1985.

JD was proud to be a member of the Midwest Operating Engineers Union and could carry on long conversations about bulldozers and payloaders.  And if you had an hour or two, he had lots of stories about his 41 years at the mills.

JD was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Linda, sister Anna Louise Hicks, sister-in-law Peggy Kasinger, his son and best friend Casey, his grandson Jason Beadles and his two great grandchildren Ryan and Elizabeth Beadles.

Because his children were exposed to Covid during his illness, a private family service will be officiated by his former pastor Daniel McDonald.  Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please give generously to one of the organizations below.

First Church of the Nazarene (where JD attended and supported during his healthier years), 2167 W. Ash St., LaPorte, IN 46350

St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (where his daughter Geta works), Please select the dedicate my donation box and make the donation for J.D. Kasinger

Epilepsy Foundation Indiana, 1100 W 42^nd St., Ste 140, Indianapolis, IN 46208-3386, in honor of his granddaughter Sara.

To sign the guestbook or leave condolences, please visit: www.geisenfuneralhome.com or call (219)874-4214.