Joseph John Kastelic Sr.

Joseph John Kastelic Sr, beloved husband of Anne (nee Sibley) for 36 years; proud father of Melissa Lupton (Eddie) and Joseph J. Jr. (Alyssa Rice); devoted “Papa” of Kaeleigh, Lyla, Cody, Ashley, Wyatt, Raychel, and Parker; brother of Ken (Connie), Laura Frazier (Brian) and Jane Meyer (Didier); loving son of the late Joseph F. and Anne H. (nee Morchak) Kastelic; dear nephew of Rudy Kastelic; Uncle and friend of many.

Joe retired in 2011, after 32 years of fire-fighter service with the City of Pepper Pike’s Fire Department. He was a 30-year resident of Aurora, Ohio, where he served as Councilman-at-Large for 16 years and became a licensed Auctioneer because of his involvement in Aurora’s annual Relay for Life event. Many weekends he was seen running in a local 5K, or 10K, or half marathon. He completed a full marathon in 2002 at Cleveland’s CVS Marathon event. He participated in several years of Ohio’s Police & Fire Games and the International Police & Fire Games held in Las Vegas & Florida until his knees said it was time to quit so he switched to biking as the need to participate was strong. In his role as a Aurora City Councilman he looked forward to the annual 4th of July events mostly because he got the privilege of handing out the 1 mile & 5K race trophy’s to the top three winners in each age category. The joy on the faces of each young winner was the best part as he often came in 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in his age category at many races over the years and knew firsthand the excitement of being a winner. In late 2009 he started to notice a small tremor in his left foot after working out. It took 3 ½ years for the diagnosis from the Cleveland Clinic because it is so rare, there is no known cause, no test and no cure: Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). MSA is a very rare, rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease. It impacts the autonomic (automatic) systems of the body resulting in a loss of the ability to walk, talk, breath & swallow. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting a tax-deductible donation for continuing research of this devastating disease be made to the MSA Coalition at www.multiplesystematrophy.org (or mailing envelopes will be available at the funeral home during visitation). The family wishes to publicly thank the Cleveland Clinic Hospice at Home for their care & support over the past 14 months.

Family will receive friends at the STEINBAUER FUNERAL HOME 33375 BAINBRIDGE RD. SOLON, on Thursday, April 27th and Friday, April 28th from 2pm-4pm and 6pm-8pm. Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, April 29th at 11am at Holy Angels Church 18205 Chillicothe Rd. Chagrin Falls. PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. Internment Aurora Cemetery.