Jeffrey Andrew Kast

TELL CITY - Jeffrey Andrew "Andy" Kast, 22, passed away Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Manhattan Beach, Calif.
He was born in Owensboro, Ky., Nov. 6, 1990, son of Jeff and Nikki (Hamilton) Kast.
Andy was an accomplished student and athlete during his high-school years, being active in all aspects of student life while participating in wrestling and soccer. He graduated as valedictorian of the Tell City High School Class of 2009, earning a Schergens Community Foundation Scholarship.
Andy continued his academic excellence at Indiana State University, Terre Haute and Indiana University, Bloomington. He aspired to pursue graduate school, where he could continue studying the field of marine biology. His love of ocean life and experimental diving led him to pursue his dream.
His accomplishments along his academic journey were numerous. Dedication and a diligent work ethic led him to many academic honors during his college life.
At ISU, Andy was awarded the ISU Foundation Scholarship, ISU Dean's Scholarship, Freshman French Award and Freshman Chemistry Student of the Year. He earned other scholarships for his excellence in math, chemistry and physics. Also, while attending ISU, Andy was a supplementary instructor for the Department of Biology and tutored students in chemistry and physics. At Indiana University, Bloomington, he was an IU Founders Scholar and was recognized for being in the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization and National Society of Collegiate Scholars for Scholarship, Leadership and Service.
Andy was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church, Indiana Rural Health Association, American Chemical Society and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
He valued the importance of serving others and volunteered his time to many worthy organizations.  Andy especially enjoyed spending time with the Gulf Coast clean-up project and St. Paul Catholic Church's mission trip to New Orleans after its devastating flood. Andy was also thankful to have had the opportunity to have spent a summer caring for others in Honduras, where he received hands-on experience assisting doctors in local hospitals.
Though his life was short, his reach was long and the lives he touched are better for it.
Surviving are his parents, Jeff and Nikki Kast of Tell City; a brother, Kris Kast of Baltimore, Md.; a sister, Lindsay Kast of Tell City; his grandparents, Glenn and Anna Hamilton of Cloverport, Ky., and Allen Kast of Tell City.  His grandmother, Nancy (Jenkins) Kast preceded him in death.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at St. Paul Catholic Church with burial in St. Mary's Cemetery. The Rev. Dennis Duvelius will officiate.
Visitation will be from 2 until 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 at Huber Funeral Home, Tell City Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the J. Andrew "Andy" Kast Memorial Fund, supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The web address for the fund is http://afsp. donordrive.com/campaign/AndyKastMemorialFund.
Messages of condolence may be left online at www.huberfuneralhome.net.