John Kasley Obituary

John Anthony Kasley died May 15, 2013.
Husband of 46 years to Kathy (Phillips) Kasley and father of Ian Kasley of Williamsburg. He was the son of Maria (Occhipinti) and Ewald Kasley (deceased), and brother to Robert, Paul and Edward Kasley and Anne Moran, all of the Chicago area.
John was born in Chicago on August 15, 1946. He attended the University of Illinois, Champaign. In the Navy, during the Vietnam War, he served on the submarine USS Halibut.
John was a Training Manager for the Chevron Corporation for 34 years, and traveled the world for the company. With his family, he lived in San Francisco, New Orleans and Houston, and his last assignment was in Singapore, before retiring and settling in Williamsburg.
While living in the San Francisco Bay Area, John played mandolin, banjo and guitar in several bluegrass bands, including Boomtown and Fresh Picked. In California he also played guitar with the klezmer group, Ellis Island.
Here in Virginia, John was a founding member of the Hampton Roads Mandolin Ensemble. For the past seven years John enjoyed working for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
John was a life-long woodworker, and excelled at building fine furniture. He obtained his amateur radio license (KK4FSZ) and enjoyed contacting other people around the world.
John loved to travel, was always an avid reader, and conversant on many subjects. He enjoyed creative challenges, research, fixing things and getting things done. He was a genuine and positive person and loved to laugh.
John passed away of a heart attack while on vacation in England, fulfilling his long-time dream of walking the "Cotswold Way." The family plans a memorial service within a few weeks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The American Heart Association.

Published by Virginia Gazette from May 24 to Jun. 23, 2013.
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From United States Submarine Veterans, our condolences to Kathy and Ian and all of John's family, friends and loved ones. You are in our thoughts and prayers that God will give you peace, comfort you in your sorrow and loss, and heal the broken hearts. We are grateful for John's service to our country in the United States Submarine service on board the USS Halibut SSN-587. To our "Brother of the Phin" ... "Sailor, rest your oar. We have the watch. May you rest in peace and may God bless your loved ones with wonderfully fond memories. Thank you for your service to our country." -- Rev. Ray Fritz, National Chaplain United States Submarine Veterans, USSVI.

Chaplain Ray Fritz

June 3, 2013

To Kathy and the Kasley Family,

On behalf of the Charleston Base SUBVETS and Swamp Fox Chapter SUBVETS WWII, I offer you our sincere condolences on John's passing. We grieve with you on the loss of your loved one. All SUBVETS and their families have your family in our thoughts and prayers. There is no expiration date on the back of our dolphins and John will always be remembered as a “Brother of the Phin” and a great Patriot.

John Anthony Kasley
US Navy
Now on Eternal Patrol
Sailor Rest Your Oar
Your Shipmates Have The Watch

Fair Winds and Following Seas Shipmate

Charleston Base Submarine Veterans
Nick Nichols, Base Chaplain

Nick Nichols

June 1, 2013

I've known John practically all my life, but I wish I had known him better.

His unassuming manner belied the renaissance man we was. John knew something about everything, and everything about things that were his passion. He took the time and patience with every project to produce the best result, whether it involved his woodworking, his music, or creating and maintaining a home for his family. And probably a myriad of other things that I know nothing of.

He truly was a man of the world, taking and making the opportunities to travel, for work and for adventure with Kathy and Ian.

I'm so sad that he is gone and that we'll never enjoy his company again. I'm comforted, as I hope all his family and friends are, that John went quickly and was doing what he loved - traveling to a well researched destination, taking in and becoming a part of the world around him.

John was my quietly exotic (in my mind) brother-in-law who traveled to interesting destinations, lived in fascinating places, and played amazing music. He gave me an appreciation for the Rutherford dust and a bluegrass tune. Whenever I hear a mandolin (or a banjo...or accordion...), I will think of him.

Godspeed, dear John.


"If everyone played mandolin there would be world peace."

Susan Phillips

May 29, 2013

John was friendly, quiet and humble. I am not surprised to read about all of his great accomplishments in this world of which he never talked about. I just knew him from playing the mandolin. He was talented and fun to jam with and eager to learn or share a tune. I was in the Mandolin Orchestra with him for a while and it was an enjoyable time starting it up.

My sincerest condolences to his family.

RIP John may there be mandolins in heaven.

Jim Hockett

May 27, 2013

May your memories of the wonderful times you shared with your loved one comfort you and your family, today and always.

American Heart Association

May 24, 2013

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