David Chastan

David Chastan Beloved husband, grandfather, and uncle, David Paul Chastan, 80, died Wednesday, April 3 at Collins House, Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan. He was born April 9, 1932 at home near Keewatin, Minnesota, the son of Joseph and Adelaide (Anselmo) Chastan. He graduated from Keewatin High School, spent 2 years in the Army (1954-1956) and attended watchmaking school in Minneapolis where he became a Certified Minnesota Watchmaker. For 20+ years he was Manager of the fine jewelry department at the downtown Minneapolis J.C. Penney store and watchmaker for that and two other Penney's fine jewelry departments in Minnesota. He held several offices in the Minnesota Watchmakers' Association over the years, including president, and participated in many of their sponsored events. Before moving back to his Northern Minnesota roots, he worked for Twin City Supply (a watch and jewelry repair supplies outlet) for a couple of years. In 1981 he and his partner (who eventually became his wife) opened their own jewelry store , 'The Gold 'n Watch Shop' in Nashwauk, MN just four miles down the road from Keewatin where he grew up. In 1987, David married his partner, Sandy Kirmser, who grew up in Manhattan. Through a series of events they wound up in Manhattan where David worked as a watchmaker from the home and as Manager of 'Things Remembered' in the Manhattan Town Center. One of the highlights of his life was to be able to travel to France to meet his father's family, first when he was in the Army in Germany (when he didn't know any French) and then 25 years later (accompanied by his wife who knew French), he had an emotional reunion with the cousins who remembered him as their 'Big, American cousin'. He was an avid hunter and fisherman in his younger days, loved the great outdoors, traveling, and figuring out how things worked. David was preceded in death by his parents, his seven siblings, a grandson, Tony Brant, his son-in-law David Brant, his daughter Joy Brant and his in-laws Philip and Jeune Kirmser. Survivors include his wife, Sandy; grandsons Christopher and David Brant, nephew Joe Pessenda and wife Jean, and many other nieces, nephews and cousins. David was a very special man who had a great sense of humor, knew how to treat people and was loved by all who met him. As his friend Robin quoted: 'There are giants who walk this Earth. They are giants not because of their stature, but because of their heart. A heart filled with warmth, tenderness, kindness, love, and humor. And their greatest attribute is gentleness. Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing is so gentle as real strength. A strong and gentle giant has left us. His spirit remains.' David requested no memorial service, but a small family gathering in Minnesota to celebrate his life is planned in June. Memorial contributions may be sent to Good Samaritan Fund at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community, 2121 Meadowlark Road, Manhattan, Kansas 66502 or left in the care of Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home.