Eli Kazer

1940 - 2025

Eli Kazer

12/23/1940 - 04/11/2025

Eli Kazer (Beryl Eli Kaser), beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, teacher, environmentalist, Army veteran, and Freemason, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Fair Oaks, California, on April 11, 2025. Eli was born December 23, 1940, in Wood County, Ohio, to Opal M. and David O. Kaser. He graduated from Troy-Luckey High School in 1958, spent a year with Brethren Volunteer Service, and joined the U.S. Army in 1960.

In 1961, Eli was transferred to Germany where he participated in the secret Davy Crockett tactical nuclear weapons program. He attended Non-Commissioned Officers Training School where he was given the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award and promoted to Sergeant by the age of 21.

After serving in the Army, Eli moved to California, where he met Virginia, his soul mate and life partner for 58 years. Eli earned his BA in Government and Communications and his teaching credential at California State University, Sacramento. He taught world history, geography, and American government at Mesa Verde High School until he retired in 2008.

Eli was a lifelong nature lover, backpacking, camping, and canoeing throughout California with friends, family, and students. He introduced children to the beauty and joy of the natural world through Woodcraft Rangers clubs. Eli was also a proud environmentalist, and he strove to live by the motto "Think Globally, Act Locally." He founded the Condor Conservation Club, a student-run recycling center where students also worked on local environmental issues like tree planting and creek cleanups.

Eli was curious, intelligent, optimistic, and passionate. An ardent lover of his fellow human beings, he was enthusiastic to share a conversation on just about any topic, from the latest blockbuster to the nature of consciousness. He was a voracious reader, keeping up especially on world politics and scientific discoveries. He opposed the proliferation of nuclear weapons and supported global cooperation. He had an enduring yearning to reconcile his spiritual beliefs with scientific understanding and was particularly inspired by cosmology.

Eli is survived by his loving family: wife, Virginia; children, Kirk, Catalin, Forest, and Rosanna; daughter-in-law, Caroline; grandchildren, Shree, Nora, Zaven, and Lucine; siblings, Donna and Roger; brother-in-law, David; nephews, Devon, Denzel, Desmond, Mark, David and John; nieces, Dawn, Dara, and Sherry; and Kirk's mother, Janice. He was predeceased by his brothers, Warren and David; and his sister-in-law, Susan.

Eli was buried at Fair Oaks Cemetery on April 15th, 2025. A celebration of life will be held in October.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Save the American River Association.