Alyce “Susie” J. Kaster, of Chesterfield, Missouri, went to be with Jesus on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at her home in Chesterfield, Missouri.

She is survived by daughters Lori Batton of Troy, Ohio and Candace Kaster of Kansas City, Missouri; grandson Tyler Batton (wife Mikaela, sons Sailer and Ryker) of Sidney, Ohio and granddaughter Lyndsey Batton (fiancé Elijah Warnock) of Piqua, Ohio, nieces Sarah Morris (Hank), Mary Jane Davis (O’Neal), Darlene Norberg, Peggy Norberg, Diane Norberg, Tammy Norberg, and nephews Leonard Morris (Janet), Bobby Norberg (Beth), Tommy Morris (Angie), brother-in-law Phil Kaster (wife Carolyn, sons Jason and Brad), sister-in-law Judy Kaster (daughters Damita Kolb and Abby Gilliam), and her beloved cat Simon and grand-dog Ollie.

Born in Youngstown, Ohio on December 24, 1939, Alyce was the youngest daughter of the five children of the late Warren and Alison Steele. She was raised and loved from the age of 7 by her late foster parents William (Bill) and Ada Jones, whom she attributed to developing her into the woman she was.  Alyce attended Niles McKinley High School in Niles, Ohio and received her Diploma in 1962 from the Akron General Hospital School of Nursing.  Alyce then furthered her education at the University of Akron where she graduated in 1967 with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.  It was there that she met her late husband Jerry L. Kaster and wed on August 6, 1966.

Alyce did not choose her vocation, Nursing chose her.  Planning to attend college to be a Physical Education Teacher, a friend asked Alyce to go with her to take the nursing exam. Alyce passed the exam, her friend didn’t, and her journey began.  Alyce took on many roles during her 43-year Nursing career – private hemodialysis nurse, Nursing Licensure tutor, Occupational Health Nurse at Monarch Tool and Die in Sidney, Ohio, Nursing Educator (Faculty at Akron General Hospital School of Nursing in Akron, OH and Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing in Steubenville, Ohio), State Surveyor for the State of South Carolina, Clinical Nurse Consultant in Kansas City, Missouri, Classroom and Clinical Instructor at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Director of Quality Improvement for HCR Manor Care in Toledo, Ohio, Expert Witness for various nursing homes, and developed Director of Nursing curriculum, which included teaching two classes annually for the Arkansas Health Care Association. One of her proudest career accomplishments was developing a Licensed Practical Nursing program at the Upper Valley Joint Vocational School in Piqua, Ohio, where she was the Director for seven years.  During that time, her students had a 100% pass rate on their state board nursing exam!  Alyce also spent 11 years with Beverly Enterprises where she began as a Regional Director of Resident Care Services and finished her time with them as Vice President of Professional Services. 

Alyce was a constant learner and excelled as an Educator and Mentor.  She frequently reflected that the best leaders know how to listen to their people, respond to and use their ideas, and be a role model and mentor to those they lead.  Alyce exemplified this in her professional and personal life. 

Her given name was Alyce, but half of the family only knew her as Susie or Sue, after “Susie Q”, a nickname given to her by an uncle.  Over the years, she was given more names by those that she loved and mentored – Mom, Mama, Ma Kaster, Miss Alyce, Alyce from the Palace, Kasterblaster, and Nurse Alyce – and she delighted in all those titles.  She was an avid fisherwoman and traveled to the Trent River in Canada regularly to fish with her foster parent Bill, catching northern pike and sleeping under canoes.  She was a multi-sport athlete and was a fierce competitor on the field.  Alyce loved to sing “little ditties” while walking through the grocery store, to the embarrassment of her daughters, and manipulate and play with words.  She ate “din din” instead of dinner or had a “samich” for lunch.  She had a way with words and unique ability to motivate and encourage while still saying the “hard stuff”.  Alyce shared her mottos with all those who would listen.  To her students her words were – “Forward Ever, Backward Never”; words she regularly repeated to the doctors caring for her during her most recent illness.

Raised in the church, Alyce sang in the church choir, played in the bell choir, and taught Sunday School.  Most recently, she has been a member of Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church since June 2015.

To sum up her greatest lesson and what she instilled in her daughters, “If your mind can perceive it, and your heart can believe it, then you surely can achieve it”.

Celebration of Life Service
Saturday, August 26, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church
9450 Clayton Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63124

Directly after the service – Visitation with family

Luncheon:
Noon – 3:00 p.m.
Four Seasons Club House – Chesterfield
615 Broadmoor Drive
Chesterfield, Missouri 63017

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made In Memory of Alyce Kaster to:

Upper Valley Career Center Education Association

 In Care of Patrick Gibson

8811 Career Drive

Piqua, Ohio 45356

Funds will support Nursing Program student scholarships.