Obituary of Hans Joachim Kastner

We are saddened to announce the death of Dad/Opa/Grump... Hans Joachim Kastner. 

He peacefully passed away on June 18, 2024, in Sydney, NS. Hans was born in Reichenberg, Czech Republic. The family moved to Poland for a brief time due to the war and finally settled in Augsburg, Germany. Hans was an easily distracted young man who decided that high school was not for him. He left and attended vocational school to earn his Machinist certification. He was a member of the German Navy where he honed his skills. He decided to immigrate to Canada in 1965 in hopes of a better future for himself. He arrived alone on Friday the 13th with $300 in his pocket, a paper bag suitcase, and only speaking German. He found this date quite ironic for his life experiences that were to follow, of course, he was joking. 

Hans settled in Toronto where he met his first wife Mary and they danced their way back to her beautiful Cape Breton Island home where he was welcomed into the Kosick family. 

Hans was a hard worker and was always interested in learning. Hans worked at the Heavy Water Plant in Glace Bay as a Millwright and Stora Pulp Mill in Port Hawkesbury where he earned his Power Engineering Certification. He also went back to school for his Marine Engineering Certification. This was for his next adventure of working at sea on oil tankers and oil drilling rigs. His final upgrade was to earn his Chief Marine Engineering license. After a number of years at sea, he transferred to a land job at Transport Canada as Ship Inspector. 

Hans wanted others to succeed and did what he could to help many students at the NSCC Nautical Institute in Port Hawkesbury over the years. Many of these students are sailing the local and high seas today. He retired from Transport Canada at the tender age of 74 years.

Pictures...pictures...pictures! Oh, so many pictures have been taken over the years by Hans that the film companies made millions of dollars! We are glad that he did because we have many pictures to reminisce over. In his off time, he enjoyed woodworking in his massive garage. There are many children that are galloping across imaginary fields on his handcrafted rocking horses. He also enjoyed fishing with his second wife Thelma and her son Vince. They savoured many meals with their catch. 

Hans is survived by his second wife Thelma (Holman) Kastner and family, his two daughters Christa Burton (Bernie Gracie) and Alexandra Piercey. Over the years he visited his homeland to see his brothers Rudolf Junior, Heinz, Peter, and his sisters Christa and Ingrid. He is extremely proud of his four grandchildren Elizabeth, Catherine, Amber, and Matthew. He also has many nieces and nephews that will remember him with fondness. 

He will be reunited with his predeceased parents Maria and Rudolf Kastner, brothers-in-law Emil Schmidt and Hans Greil, and sisters-in-law Erica and Irene Kastner. 

A beer stein will be raised in Hans' honour at a Celebration of Life at the Dennis Haverstock Funeral Homes Ltd., 724 Granville St, Port Hawkesbury, NS on July 6, 2024 from 2pm to 5pm. 

Hans loved the sea and will always be forever a sailor when released to the ocean at a later date. 

Hans, Christa, and Alexandra cannot say Thank You enough to the wonderful Doctors, Nurses, Staff, and Volunteers at the Strait Richmond Hospital in Cleveland. Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, and Hospice Cape Breton in Sydney. Your compassion cannot be Thanked enough!

Hans loved the thought of winning the lottery. We will miss our biweekly calls from him reminding us to get our winning lottery tickets and letting us know of the large prize pots. We feel we won the lottery with him as our Dad. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice Cape Breton, 6 Charles Herney Awti, Mira Road, NS B1P 0J8, where his last days were dignified and peaceful.

Cremation has been entrusted to the care and compassion of T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, Glace Bay.  

Visitation is entrusted to the care and compassion of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Homes Ltd., Port Hawkesbury, NS.