Janet Carolyn Kassel, 88, of Antonia died April 28, 2026. Born Dec. 14, 1937, Mrs. Kassel was the daughter of the late Herman and Henrietta (Winheim) Franke. She worked for Farmers Bank for 40 years, serving the communities of Antonia, Imperial and Shady Valley. Mrs. Kassel was a longtime member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Imperial and served as financial secretary for several years. Above all, though, she was a kind and generous wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her family meant the world to her. She was married to the late Melvin Kassel for 61 years.
She is survived by her daughter, Joan (John) Sands of Birmingham, AL; son, Jerry (Jessica) Kassel of Imperial; grandchildren Claire (Paul) Keith of Birmingham, AL, Matthew Kassel and Sophia Kassel of Imperial; great-grandchildren Henry and Walt Keith of Birmingham, AL; and sister-in-law, Vera Franke of Freeburg, IL.
In addition to her husband and parents, Mrs. Kassel was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Franke, her nephew, John Franke, and her niece, Judy Kremmel.
Visitation will be held from 9:30-11 a.m. Saturday, May 16 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 6550 Old State Rt. 21 in Imperial. A funeral service will immediately follow at 11 a.m. Internment will be in St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Heiligtag-Lang-Fendler Funeral Home in Arnold.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) at Breakthrought1d.org to help cure type 1 diabetes.
