Name: Heiligtag-Lang-Fendler Funeral Home
Address: Arnold, MO

In April of 2015, I stopped by Fox to see a few former teachers I had.  Little did I know, Mr Kasey was the only one left.  I had the great privilege to sit with him for an hour while he told me how his career in teaching came to be.  He also told me that, 2015 would be his last year teaching.  Knowing his impact on thousands of students over his career, I knew he couldn't just retire and walk off into the sunset without anyone else knowing.  So, I took to Facebook and shared a picture and the story of his retirement.   Needless to say, that blew up quickly.  In about four weeks on May 2nd 2015, over 800 former students, his fellow church members and his siblings came together to give him a huge, as he called it, Graduation Party.  Food was donated by former students that owned local restaurants, while others donated their time to help serve everyone.  A DVD was made with messages of good wishes from students all over the country and the world. Including, one .as far away as Japan.  While there I spoke to several people about how more needed to be done for him at the school.  While I'm not taking full credit for it, I did make mention of his classroom corner should be named after him.  I did, however,  get with the mayor's office of Arnold and had that day declared Art Kasey day.  After hearing of his passing, I reached out to the mayor again to see what it would take to get a part of Jeffco Blvd renamed for him by the school.  I feel, the true impact of someone is not what they do that defines them, but how it affects others when they're gone.  Their true legacy lives on.  RIP Mr. Kasey. You're a true legend in the Fox family and the community.

After Art Kasey's retirement, his long time friend Vernon Sullivan and I approached him about serving on the board of the Arnold Food Pantry. The pantry is recognized as the largest independent food distribution center in the St. Louis region. The pantry services the entire Fox and Windsor School District boundaries. Art accepted our invitation to the board and served many years, giving of his time and money to help rid the community of hunger. He would come in on the days of the board  meeting early and purchase items at the Treasure Shoppe that was the financial arm of the pantry and then donate the items away. Now, this year we have lost both Vernon Sullivan, who was the chairman of all of the fundraising concerts at Rickman Auditorium and Art Kasey. So sad. Phil Amato board president from 2016 until this year.

He would pull your interest in from something most people would find boring, but he had a way to make things eccentric!

To the Kasey family…
Art was a beloved friend who came into the Treasure Shoppe at the food pantry every week where I work. It was the highlight of my week to see what news he had.  So many other customers would ask if that was Mr. Kasey and all said he was their favorite teacher.  I can only imagine how many lives he touched with his kindness and love. 
He will be truly missed. 

My prayers and best regards to his family,

Mr. Kasey was an amazing colleague and friend.  Some of my favorite memories with him were after school in his Science and Discovery Club or Chess Club - where he welcomed a wide range of students with any ability level to participate - and made it fun.  Mr. Kasey was also glad to listen and help advocate for me as a new teacher, and enjoyed having "bull sessions" in the halls after school let out, where he'd sometimes sit down against the wall and chat with other colleagues.  In department meetings, he refused to keep his questions/responses short and to the point, much to the chagrin of our department head.  Anyone who knew Mr. Kasey knew he was not going to be short and to the point.
When I needed materials, I quickly learned to go see him,  and on frenzied mornings when I walked in his classroom, he'd immediately say, "How many and in what color?", anticipating my situation with humor.

As a friend, Mr. Kasey was funny and loved to help others.  He was a good listener and I am glad I was able to share his community - he came to Arnold the same year it was incorporated, and he became one of the pillars that established what the community has become.
I'm truly going to miss his friendship, energy, and spirit that was always able to put a smile on my face.

OBITUARY

Arthur Robinson Kasey III

January 22, 1940 – October 21, 2024

Heiligtag-Lang-Fendler Funeral Home

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