 HARDYSTON - On May 26. 2012, Reg was diagnosed with incurable glimo brain cancer. He fell asleep in death under the loving care of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and his family in his home of 48 years on Big Spring Road in Hardyston. He is predeceased by his brother, Mahlon Roy Casterlin; brother, Bruce Martin; grandson, Jesse Jo Gaiss; and his nephew, Kenneth Utter Larssen. He leaves behind sisters, Delores Van Tassel, Clara Haas and Rebecca Larssen; and brothers, Daryl Martin and Byron Martin. Reg grew up in Hamburg and married Rose Marie at the Catholic church Feb. 2, 1957. He leaves behind his four devoted children, Joanne Iona Geiss, Constance Marie Rude, Sharon Rose Drew and only son, Reginald Dean Casterlin II. Also eight grandchildren, Bruce Lee Geiss, James Dean Rude, Sheena Raquel Marie Rude, Ryan Reginald Rude, James Robert Reginald Drew, Dakoda Rose Drew and Denee Rose MacDonald and Keifer Coats Casterlin. In 1968, Reg began studying the Bible. He was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on July 11, 1969, and is such as of today. He was the owner and operator of Hardyston Paving since 1972 and retired in 2005. His only hobby was riding his Harley Davidson when he had time. His life is well described by this letter from one of his daughters; we'd like to share it with you. Dear Daddy, Yup, you will always be my daddy whether I am 4 or 104! Life goes by and it seems we don't take advantage of the time we have, to say the things we need to say to the people we love the most, so here it goes: you gave me a wonderful life! I grew up in a house full of commotion with two sisters and a brother, my life was a roller coaster, it still is, but I'm sure you'll agree roller coasters are much more fun than a merry-go-round! I can't ever remember being bored, we were pretty much self contained, not really needing any outside friends because we had each other, but you made sure we were well rounded. You and mom always had people over on the weekend. You threw the most exciting and huge "congregational" gatherings and square dances, never leaving anyone out, you didn't care how much money they had, what they looked like, how old they were, whether they were homeless, fatherless or husbandless, they were all included. You treated the service group to lunch and always took care of the people around you, whether they were family or not. We had everything a kid would want, two parents who loved us, took care of us, taught us the truth and to be generous, kind, outspoken and loyal. We had a huge yard, we rode ponies, had pigs, cows, chickens ducks, turkeys sheep, goats and a dang donkey! We had a "blue lagoon" pond to swim in, which hundreds of people were able to enjoy. You would pack us up every month and lead a caravan of cars to Livingston to go roller-skating. Every summer we would go camping at Sea Isle City with huge groups of witnesses, winters we went to Florida, we went all over the United States for conventions, learning things and meeting people. You and mom made sure we never missed meetings, even when we had no car, you would pile us up in that little green Datsun pick up truck cab, all six of us would ride to Newton, all dressed up in suits and dresses piled high, which wasn't comfortable, I know, I was on the bottom ... But we were together, pinching, poking, whining and arguing, but we got there - to the Kingdom Hall as a family! And even though we couldn't move on the way home, we all seemed to be able to get those homemade hotdogs to our mouths that you would get from Brother Keller. And yes, Dad, you made us work! I don't think one day went by in the summer that there wasn't a long list of chores for us to do, I hated those lists! But guess what? Every one of your children is a hard worker, and that's because you not only kept us busy, but you worked alongside of us teaching us the right way to do things. No, everything wasn't always calm and wonderful, everyone makes mistakes, but I thank Jehovah that you are my dad! Thank you, Daddy, for your words of wisdom, your hard work, your loyalty to the truth, your outspokenness and your absolutely wonderful sense of humor. You recently said to me, "I feel so bad because I was thinking about all the times when you lived in New Jersey and your mother and I would come home from giving estimates and you and your kids would be sitting on the porch waiting for us to visit." Don't feel bad Daddy, I will be on your porch waiting for you, no matter how long it takes, to visit with you again! Always remember this, I won't only love you for the rest of your life; I will love you for the rest of mine. I promise. My love, always and forever, Your daughter, Connie xoxo Reg was buried privately at the North Church Hardyston Cemetery. The ceremony was officiated by his son. He rests beside his parents, Albert Havens Casterline and his mother, Iona Costerline Martin, peacefully awaiting the resurrection, when he will be given another chance to live, only this time forever! John 5:28 and 29. A memorial service will be held in his honor at the Franklin Kingdom Hall on High Street at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5. All are welcome. Cards of condolences can be can be sent to the family at 23 Big Spring Road, Franklin, N.J. 07416.
Published in The New Jersey Herald on August 5, 2012
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