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Human Interest
Obituary from the Racine Post newspaper (edited).
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| Kaiser Kasabian |
Kaiser Kasabian, age 80, passed away Wednesday, November 19, 2008, at his residence in Racine Wisconsin, USA. Kaiser was born in Racine on October 18, 1928, son of the late Hyrabed and Elisa (Nee: Arakian) Kasabian and was a lifelong Racine resident.
Kaiser was a graduate of William Horlick High School “Class of 1947.” In 1952, he married Ardys L. Olson. During the Korean War he served in the United States Navy. He was employed by Precise Products and then by J.I. Case Company for thirty-two years, retiring in 1991.
He was a lifetime member of the Racine Yacht Club. He loved sailing and actively sailed his Star boat in the Wednesday night fleet races until a year and a half ago
Last June 21st, the Western Lake Michigan (WLM) Star Fleet and the Racine Yacht Club celebrated the fleet, one of the oldest active Star Fleets in the world (70+ years), with their annual Jim Fox Memorial 59th Mission Regatta.
The origins of Star Boat sailing in Racine can be traced back to the pre-WWII period of 1938-40. During this early period from 1938 through 1948, there were no formally chartered fleets in Racine or Kenosha until they decided to combine forces and establish the current Western Lake Michigan Star Fleet Charter in 1948. During these 70 plus years, there have been 64 boats, 100 skippers and at least 150 crew members. Boats #377, 412, 1236 and 1333 sailed in these early fleets. Today, we have in our fleet 16 boats with four Stars bearing 8000 numbers.
At the Mission regatta, Star Class President Bill Allen honored Kaiser Kasabian and 6 other living members of that original group with Star Class Incentive Award Medals for their contributions (others were Bill Berby, Carly Tomasek, Herman Jansen, Fred Guenther, Mitch Stykowski and Butch Grasser.) These men are the WLM fleet's "Greatest Generation". Kaiser Kasaabian will be deeply missed by his fellow fleet members.
Survivors include his wife, Ardys; his four children, Curtis (Marcy) Kasabian, Susan Kasabian, all of Racine, Kari Lee (Daniel) Rasmussen of Nisula, MI, and Ben (Jackie) Kasabian of Racine; his ten grandchildren, Kim (Eric) Haigh, Dan (Corey) Kasabian, Season (Jason) Hofner, Ty (Julie) Ewing, Kelly (Keith) Danielski, Brian Sullivan, Michael Rasmussen, Haley (Greg) Tarnowski, Ben Kasabian Jr. and Nathan Kasabian; 13 great-grandchildren; and dear friends.
Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Monday, November 24, 2008, at 11 a.m. Interment with full military honors will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the funeral home on Monday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service. Memorials to one’s favorite charity have been suggested.
MARESH-MEREDITH & CKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888
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