David C. Casner

David Cameron Casner of Boswell, Indiana passed away unexpectedly on October 26, 2022 at his residence at the age of 60.

He was born on a Spring Day, April 24, 1962 in Indianapolis, Indiana to Ruth Ione (Cameron) Casner-Rathbun and David Brooks Casner.  Living his pre-school days in Indianapolis, he was taught to love pets, hand feed squirrels, go fishing and loved toys that made noises. 

Moving to Warsaw in Kindergarten, he got to know his 9 cousins, be a Scout, learned to “garden”, build things, and welcomed his only sibling, Matthew.  Growing up, he could always earn money by painting a fence, washing a car, or mowing lawns.  In High School, he was a good wrestler, especially at 119 lb. Class.  He and his horse, Blitz, were prize friends. 

After graduating from Warsaw High School in 1980, he sampled college, then joined the U.S. Army and spent two years mainly stationed in the Panama Canal Zone.  Then he and three friends drove to Seattle, Washington, and were employed by the Sea Fisher, ocean fishery ship.  With 32 other men, they sailed the seas from California to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, as net fisherman on a factory ship for commercial seafood.  During those two years, David got tired of being cold and wet on the Baring Sea net crew, so he volunteered to be the boat chef.  At least you were then always dry and warm, as you prepared four meals a day for a crew of 33. 

With the knowledge of sea food, David moved back to Indiana and worked for Doc Miller’s Fish Farms in Syracuse and later was a wholesale food salesman with restaurant and commissary facilities around Indianapolis. 

At this time, he was reunited with a college girlfriend.  They were later married for 13 years, which brought them, and their dogs to Boswell, Indiana.  The three dogs they raised were like children to them and loved dearly.  Sadly, each dog was lovingly buried in their own Pet Cemetery on the north side of their property. 

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, David and two college friends went to New Orleans for 3 weeks to help homeowners.  This ignited an interest in the formation of a career in carpentry, remodeling and renovation.  Thus, back in Indiana, he worked with John Mcintyre Construction Company before joining West Minister Village in Lafayette, Indiana, where he found many useful hours, as well as especially enjoying conversations with the senior citizen residents therein.  Working in construction he was able to travel all over the U.S. as he moved frequently and was definitely a jack-of-all-trades. 

David had many talents:  cooking, brewing homemade “brew”, loading gun ammunition, growing flowers, and tinkering with the internet, cell phones and is computer.  He was good at helping others and enjoyed his friends and family.  He will be dearly missed.

He leaves behind his mother and stepfather, Ruth (Jerry) Casner-Rathbun (Ft. Wayne, Indiana); brother, Matthew C. (Michelle) Casner (Warsaw, Indiana); stepsister, Jennifer (Jeff) Judy (Ft. Wayne, Indiana); and his two nieces, Morgan and McKenzie Casner.  He was preceded in death by his father, David Brooks Casner on December 17, 2009.            

David’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana and officiated by Theodore Fry.  Friends and family may visit prior to the service from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.  Military rites will be performed at the funeral home by members of the American Legion Post #49 and the V.F.W. #1126 both of Warsaw.  He was laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw, Indiana. 

Memorial donations may be directed to the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, 1048 S.  325 W., Pierceton, IN  46562.

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