William J. Castanien

William J. (Bill) Castanien died peacefully on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the CHP Hospice in Defiance, Ohio.

He was born on July 10, 1930 to Paul and Ruth (Blaser) Castanien in Upper Sandusky. He was the 6th child in a family of nine children. He lived in Upper Sandusky until age 12. He was known by his family as Billy. They moved to Marion where he graduated from Marion Harding High School in 1950. He was active in school. He was on the football team where he played full back. His head was so small, he had to wear a helmet from the Jr High team. He was also involved in Tumbling, Track, Cross Country and in the Printing Club. He was the manager at the L&K Restaurant in Marion, Oh before entering the Army where he served as a cook in the Korean War. After finishing his tour he began his studies at Bowling Green State University. He was on the diving team in 1956-57. He had not been on a diving team in high school. He practiced many hours and bruised his body learning the dives as well as creating his own dives. At the end of the year, the coach made comments on each diver. He said of Bill, he "could become one of top divers in Conference". It was during his senior year that he met and married Marjorie Slawson. He graduated in 1958. His first teaching job was teaching woodworking at a nearby junior high school. In 1959 the couple moved to the Mansfield area where Bill taught Industrial Arts, including drafting and woodworking, for 15 years. He also sold life insurance and later sold Amway products. He taught gymnastics at the local Y. He taught in the Galion City Schools after his divorce in 1975.

During many summers Bill worked in road construction and was also a member of the Carpenter's Union. He was on the construction crew that rebuilt the Mohican State Park Lodge in 1976. He also taught in the Marion City Schools and later worked for the State of Ohio with Occupational Rehabilitation. After his retirement he moved to Columbus where he was later joined by daughter Barb and son Greg (4 yrs).

Bill enjoyed the outdoors. He enjoyed ice skating on the Sandusky River from the farm into Upper Sandusky, canoeing at Mohican with his family, going to Hocking Hills, playing volleyball on the beach, white water rafting on the New River in West Virginia, and thoroughly enjoyed dancing and taught many a gal. He was known in the dancing community as "Wild Bill", "Silver Fox" or "Dancing Bill". He danced 5-7 nights a week for over 25 years. The women lined up to dance with him. His dance styles included Ballroom, Country Two Step, Line dancing, Swing and more. His favorite was Disco. He never had formal lessons, he observed others and taught himself. He had lines of women waiting to dance with him. He even danced on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. He enjoyed playing Euchre, Poker and Pinochle and going to the casinos. He was an avid OSU fan, not just football but Women's Basketball too.

Most of all, Bill loved spending time with his family. He and Barb moved to Defiance in 2016 where they could enjoy Bill's great grandchildren. He resided at Kingsbury Place and Glen Park before moving to the Putnam Heritage in Ottawa, Ohio.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his siblings Marjorie Castanien (Upper Sandusky), Virginia Retterer (Bowling Green), Paul (Bud) Castanien (Wooster), Jeanne Shertzer (Andover), Janet Swisher (Galion), Judy Thatcher (Marion). Also preceding his death were his daughter Jo Marie Castanien and son Jon Paul Castanien.

Surviving are his daughters Carol Lynn Castanien-Bohn (David Peebles) (Florida, OH), and Barbara Ann Castanien, (Defiance) and son, William Gregory, known as Greg Castanien (Kristin Castanien) (Defiance). Grandchildren Angelique Bailey (Jeff Bailey), Joey Bohn (Jennifer Bohn), Josh Bohn, all of Defiance. Great grandchildren Liam, Kendall, Aria, Rayla, Jensen and Finn, brother Frank Castanien (Denise), Englewood Fl, sister Eleanor Seidell (Virginia Beach, Va), ex-wife Marjorie Castanien (Defiance), many cousins, nieces and nephews and friends.

There will be a reception held at St. John U.C.C. in Defiance, for friends remembrances on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, from 12:00 – 6:30 PM.

Visitations for William Castanien will be held from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, with a funeral service at 1:00 pm on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Emanuel U.C.C., located at 13989 Township Hwy. 127, Upper Sandusky, OH  43351 and will be officiated by his niece and nephew-in-law Pastors Margaret and Jerry O'Brien.  Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Upper Sandusky, where military honors will be conducted by the Upper Sandusky Color Guard.

The funeral service for William Castanien will be streamed via the Emanuel UCC Facebook page available at: https://www.facebook.com/share/15mK1Aa42c/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

as well as on their website at: https://www.themudchurch.com/

Memorial contributions may be made to CHP Defiance In Hospice Care Center, or Wounded Warriors, and can be sent to Lucas-Batton, 476 S. Sandusky Ave. Upper Sandusky, OH 43351.

CHP Defiance in Hospice Care Center
6817 N. OH-66, Defiance OH 43512

Wounded Warrior Project