Jessie Castle, 88, of Rensselaer, passed away at his home November 18, 2013. He was born in Mid, KY on Aug. 11, 1925, the son of Ark Castle and Mary (Hicks) Castle. He attended Floyd County schools and left Kentucky in his teens to find work in Cleveland, OH. From there, he came to Jasper County, Indiana where he met his wife, Charlotte (Martin) Castle. They married on April 10, 1946.

Jessie enjoyed hunting, trapping and buying furs and was the proprietor of Castle & Sons Furs. He also enjoyed collecting arrowheads and Native American artifacts. He worked as a crane operator for ten years at the American Bridge Plant in Gary, IN, and then joined the Carpenters Union where he worked until his retirement in 1990. He was proud to be a member of United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 1005, and proud to have helped build his parents home in Kentucky as a young teenager where he learned his skill. Jessie loved his family and friends very much and thanked God for his long life.

Jessie is survived by his loving family: wife Charlotte Castle of Rensselaer; seven children: Robert Castle (wife: Wanda) of Medaryville, Charlotte “Annie” Williams (husband: Randy) of Valdosta, GA, Lilli Castle of Diamond Bar, CA, Mary Castle of Dallas, TX, Cathy Parker (husband: Randy) of Valparaiso, Rose Schaal (husband: Michael) of Forest Lake, MN, and Christopher Castle (wife: Renee) of Rensselaer; four sisters: Trylbia Prater of Ada, OH, Melba Williams of Columbus, OH, Glenna Moser of Ohio, and Gladys Marie Castle of Denver, CO; 19 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by: his parents; one daughter, Cynthia Marie Castle; one son-in-law, Ephrem Meshesha; three brothers: Okie Castle, Kermit Castle and Kenneth Castle; and two sisters: Sylvia Patrick and Shelby Jean Dingledine.

The family will receive friends Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 from 3-7 p.m. (CST), and again Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013 from 10:30 a.m. until time of services at 11:30 a.m. (CST) at Steinke Funeral Home of Rensselaer. Chaplain Robert Rawlins officiating. Interment will follow at Wheatfield Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the organization of the donor’s choice. Share memories and condolences online at SteinkeFuneralHome.com.