Mose Castona

Mose Castona, 87, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, passed away Sunday February 7, 2016, peacefully surrounded by his family, after a long hard battle with cancer. Mose was born September 13, 1928 to Mose and Mary Castona in Mosinee, Wisconsin, the youngest of 12. He was active in baseball and boxing in high school. He graduated in 1946 and then ran his parents farm for two years. November 11, 1947, he lost his left hand in a sawmill accident. Mose continued to work as a school bus driver and janitor for the next three years, then went on to Wisconsin Vocational School where he received his welding and blueprint reading certificate. He worked in a foundry for a year.

On April 14, 1952 he married the love of his life Genevieve Meyer with whom he spent the last 63 years with. They had 6 children together, Randal, Wendy, Colleen, Duane, Monique, and Shawn.

Mose injured his left hand in September of 1952 and worked odd jobs for 2 years while his hand healed. Mose worked for Bucyrus Erie in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for 14 years starting as a welder, fitter, and technical foreman. Mose was also an Instructor at the South Milwaukee Vocational School where he taught welding, blueprint reading, and math for 3 years. Mose was transferred to Bucyrus Erie in Pocatello, Idaho in 1974 as a General Foreman, and then promoted to Superintendent of the Fab and Large Machine Department until 1983 when they closed. Mose then started a new career learning to be a carpenter at age 55 for the next 29 years. He went to work at Star Mountain Construction, owned by his son Randal, also working with his other two sons, Duane, Shawn, and many of his grandchildren until 2013. He was well respected and known as "The Stairmaster" in Park City, Utah, because of his fine craftsmanship when he built stairs.

When he wasn't working he enjoyed skiing and golfing with his wife Genevieve. They took yearly sky trips to Big Sky, Montana. He enjoyed restoring old cars and was most proud of his red 1967 Mustang convertible. He enjoyed cooking on the grill for Genevieve and their dog Maggie Mose also enjoyed family get together with his 9 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Mose loved to watch his grandson Christopher play football and his granddaughter Samantha compete in rodeos. He also loved to watch the Green Bay Packers and play solitaire. Mose had a love for football. He watched the 1st Super Bowl 50 years ago with his son Randal, and the Green Bay Packers won. Mose passed while watching the 50th Super Bowl with Randal and the rest of the family.

Mose is survived by his wife Genevieve Castona, Chubbuck, ID, children Randal (Leona) Castona, Oakley, UT, Wendy (Pete) Melvasio DeSotto, WI, Robert Ahlin (Colleen's surviving spouse) Missoula, MTDuane (Anne) Castona, South Barre, MA, Monique (Dean) Jones, Pocatello, ID, Shawn (Bea) Castona, Pocatello, ID, his brother Ed Castona, Helena, MT., and many nieces and nephews. He we be deeply missed by all.

He is preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters, 6 brothers, his daughter Colleen Ahlin, grandson Josh Ahlin, and great grandson Ducan Crutcher.

A Celebration of Mose Castona's life will be held from 2:30-4:30 pm on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Rd.

Special thanks to Encompass Hospice for all there care and compassion not only for Mose, but the entire family.

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