Cindy Anne Kastl

Cindy Bird Kastl left us on May 21, 2018 at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House. Her husband, George Kastl was by her side.  Cindy was born on February 10, 1953 in La Grande, Oregon to Tracy and Jeanne Bird.  She had one sister, Peggy Bird Allen.

The family lived in La Grande until 1963 when they moved to Sherman County, living briefly in Rufus then in Wasco.  Cindy graduated from Sherman County High School in 1971.  She considered Wasco as her hometown and made lifelong friends of all ages there.

She met George Kastl in 1971.  They were married in 1975.  They have lived in Albany for the past 40 years.  They lovingly restored their 1888 Victorian home in the historical Monteith district to its original construction and style of that period.

She loved gardening.  She incorporated heirloom plants and cuttings into her landscape.  She cultivated an amazing variety of plants in the greenhouse that George custom built for her.

Cindy had a great intellect and thirst for knowledge.  She had passion for genealogy and history.  Long before the advent of the internet, she researched her ancestry by mail and telephone calls to county records offices and churches and visits to cemeteries.  She carefully copied and shared documents with contacts she made through her research.  She was not only interested in the lineage of her ancestors; she wanted to get to know who they were and how they lived.  She was proud to learn she was a fifth generation Oregonian.  She was dismayed to discover that some of her ancestors had been slave owners.

She and George were avid antique collectors.  Cindy had a particular interest in antique dolls.  As with genealogy, she focused not just on the object but the lives of those whose hands it passed through.  She was delighted to find clues in the clothes the dolls were dressed in.  She became an expert on many objects such as crocks and looked for notes and other treasures left with them by previous owners.

Cindy also loved animals.  She rescued many a stray kitten or cat by either taking them in or finding a suitable home or rescue organization.  She also had a variety of other pets including dogs, a goat, a duck, a goose, chickens and even an opossum.

Cindy was a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints.  She developed many friendships through her church.  She loved her home visitors and visiting other members.  She also volunteered in a program to encourage children to read.

Cindy is survived by her husband, George; her sister Peggy Allen and her husband Bill; brother-in-law Clinton (Nubbin) Kastl and numerous nieces and nephews.  She is also survived by two aunts, Renee Hellums and Ann Abel as well as an uncle Don Abel. Her parents Tracy and Jeanne Bird preceded her in death.

Services will be held on May 31 at 11 am at the Church of Latter Day Saints (1615 SE 28th Ave, Albany, OR 97321).

Remembrances in her name can be donated to Safe Haven Animal Shelter (https://safehavenhumane.org).

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements

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