Vanita Clara Kassing

Vanita C. Kassing, 91, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Vanita was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on December 10, 1930, the daughter of the late Fred and Freida (Fischbach) Kleinschmidt. Vanita graduated from Concordia Lutheran High School in the class of 1948 and the School of Nursing at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland, OH, in 1952.

In 1954, Vanita married her high school sweetheart Lester A. Kassing. Les and Vanita were blessed with sixty years of marriage and five children, four sons and a daughter. Vanita worked as a nurse until her firstborn arrived and then embraced motherhood and supported her husband as a homemaker. She was active in her church as a Kennedy Evangelist and in local organizations like the Sertoma Club in Fort Wayne, IN; Entree Nous Newcomers Group and the public television station in Peoria, IL; and more recently as a volunteer receptionist and Bible study leader at her church in Hurst, TX.

Vanita enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Vanita placed a high value on faith and family and deeply loved her siblings and nieces and nephews. She and Les loved to travel and were fortunate to travel extensively worldwide. To the end, Vanita was a prayer warrior and took seriously her role as a matriarchal leader to ensure the gift of faith was passed down into the next generations.

Vanita is preceded in death by her parents Fred and Freida Kleinschmidt; her brother, Ervin Kleinschmidt; her sister, Marie Taykowski; her sister, Darlene Oehler; her brother, Ron Kleinschmidt, her daughter-in-law, Robin Kassing; and her loving husband, Lester A. Kassing. She is survived by her five children: John (Susan) Kassing of Lighthouse Point, FL; Jeffrey (Diane) Kassing of Plano, TX; Judson Kassing of Frisco, TX; Jay (Jennifer) Kassing of Dallas, TX; and Julie (Robert) Norris; her eighteen grandchildren: Ryan (Ann Blair) Housefield, Lauren (Jordan) Kohley, Peter Kassing, Michael (Ali) Kassing, Kathryn (Steven) Farabaugh, Scott Kassing, Hadley Kassing, Grant Kassing, Peyton Kassing, Jack Kassing, Emily, Kassing, Audrey Kassing, Ella Kassing, Jet Kassing, Sarah (Daniel) Jensen, Matthew (Lauren) Norris, David (Kathryn) Norris, and Kristin Norris; twelve great-grandchildren: Mary Ryan and Gracie Housefield; Reagan, John, and Jacob Kohley; Madelyn Kassing; Reese and Hudson Farabaugh; William, Hannah, and Rachel Jensen; and Abigail Norris; her brothers Donald Kleinschmidt of Randolph, NJ, and Jerry (Mary) Kleinschmidt of Fort Wayne, IN; along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.

While she will be sorely missed, her family rejoices in the knowledge that she is freed from the struggle of declining health, is comforted by the promise of eternal life, and is honored to be a part of the legacy that she leaves behind. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, January 7, at Peace Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Les and Vanita Kassing Endowed Scholarship at Concordia Lutheran High School, Fort Wayne, IN. https://www.clhscadets.com/apps/pages/endowment-giving

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23