Dr. Harry E. Kasten was a prominent physician and surgeon, youth and civic leader. Dr. Kasten was one of the organizers of the blue Cross-Blue Shield Medical plan of Wisconsin and a founder of the Medical Museum at Fort Crawford, Wisconsin. He was engaged in active practice of dermatology and urology. He had been president of the State Medical Society in 1957-1958, held membership in numerous state, national and world medical societies and was active in youth, civic and service clubs for over fifty years.

He was born October 16, 1888, in Lowell Township, Wisconsin, the son of Gutav and Herminia Stark Kasten. He attended rural schools and graduated from Juneau High School. He starred in Football at Milwaukee State Normal School, paid his tuition with a professional orchestra and taught school in Oak Grove and Burnette from 1904 to 1914. After a year as high school principal at Friendship, he enrolled at UW-Madison, becoming an instructor in anatomy. He enrolled in Bush Medical School at the University of Chicago, winning his MD degree in 1921. He practiced a year in Muncie, Indiana, before coming to Beloit.

On November 3, 1925, he married the former Irene Buckner. His home was at 915 Milwaukee Road. Dr. Kasten served as ringmaster for numerous “Y” circuses, wrote the Boy Scout Eagle Court of Honor ceremonies and served the local scout council as president for 16 years. At Lake Geneva he generously presented a health lodge to the scouts. The doctor did post graduate work in New York and Vienna.

He was a veteran of World War I, member of the American Legion, had been president of the Beloit Rotary Club and a member of the Greater Beloit Association of Commerce. He was a member of the City Council from 1934 to 1941. He was listed in various medical encyclopedias and in “Who’s Who in Wisconsin”, “Who’s Who in the Midwest” and “Who’s Who in America.” He died on September 28, 1968. He was survived by four nephews – Walter, Robert and Gustav Kasten of Dodge County, Wisconsin, Clyde Buschkopf of Wausaw and two nieces – Nancy and Robin Kasten.