James Bernard Kasica

Jim was born in Detroit, MI, to Edna Aline (Luther) Kasica and Bernard Casmere Kasica on January 25, 1947. Besides Detroit, Jim lived in Southern California, Ohio, and Tennessee before finally settling in Madison Heights, MI, a suburb of Detroit. He graduated from Madison High School, class of 1965.

Jim did two tours of duty in Viet Nam as an Army Counter Intelligence Officer. He returned to Madison Heights in 1970. He had attended junior college before enlisting in the Army. He entered Oakland University getting his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science in December 1974.

In 1970, Jim met the love of his life, Donna Kasica. They married October 29, 1971. They celebrated their 52nd anniversary this year in Sedona, AZ.

It had been Jim’s dream to live in Washington, DC since he was a kid visiting with his parents. Consequently, the young couple moved to DC and spent 37 years in Arlington, VA, just a few miles from the White House. Jim’s love was politics and he had started as a young high- schooler distributing candidate material. Living in DC was a wonderful experience in all things political. He was an advisor to local political candidates. He established the Roosevelt Society, whose motto was “we do our part” – to provide monthly support for the local Democratic Party.

He was fortunate to attend the 1992 New York Democratic Convention with press credentials and as a Delegate to the Chicago Convention in 1996. We also received an invitation to one of the inaugural balls but stood outside because it was “overbooked.” But the honor of getting an invitation was what was important to Jim.

Jim’s career was mainly in support of contractors for the Department of Defense often with an IT element. His Viet Nam experience allowed him to obtain the clearances so coveted in DC. He exited the Defense work to join Arthur D Little Consultancy before he ended his career in IT working for Marriott International Headquarters group.

Since retiring and moving to Cool in 2012, Jim has travelled to 13 countries where his love of photography was sated. He did volunteer work for Auburn Interfaith Food Closet for their Homebound program. Most recently he joined the Knights of Columbus where he had the honor of running Bingo. It gave him great joy to serve St Teresa of Avila and the Bingo players each Wednesday.

Jim doted on his wife Donna and loved to buy her clothes. Donna always joked that she had more clothes than Macy’s. He cooked for the first 44 years they were married. Finally after being retired a few years, he taught Donna how to cook. He was the best husband ever - kind, patient, thoughtful, great gift-giver.

He will be missed by many people on the East and West Coast but never forgotten by those who love him.

Jim is survived by his wife, Donna Kasica, his sister Joyce Work of TN, his nephew John Work, niece Nancy Williams (Dillion) and her children and grandchildren, his uncle Larry Kasica (Margaret), and cousins in Michigan and Tennessee. Jim is preceeded in death by his parents Edna and Bernard Kasica and his older sister Susan who passed shortly after birth in 1945.

Visitation will be at the Chapel of the Hills, 1331 Lincoln Way, Auburn CA 95603 on January 10 hours 4-7 pm. The funeral is January 11 at 1 p.m. at St. Teresa of Avila church, 11600 Atwood, Auburn, 95603.