Bill Kasch III

Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Burma in SE Asia; Calcutta, Delhi, and Benares in India; Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Bali in Indonesia, plus the Philippines. He returned to SE Asia years later with his wife Donna to visit Cambodia's Angkor Wat ruins. In 1973 Bill traced Marco Polo's route across China, experiencing a harrowing trip across the Afghan-China border; climbing the western end of the Great Wall; and becoming one of the first Americans to see the terra-cotta soldiers of Xi'an. Exploring the interior of the Great Pyramid of Egypt stunned Bill by the precise engineering skills of ancient builders. Other African adventures stretched from Cape Town, South Africa; the desolate sands of Namibia; Botswana's Okavanga Delta; and the ancient Ethiopian cities of Addis Abba, Asmara, and Axum. Shortly after his mother died in 1983, Bill retired and returned home to Longview in order to care for his elderly stepfather, a decorated World War II veteran Harvey Dybvik. 

After returning home, Bill became very active with the Cowlitz County Democratic Party, serving for over twenty years as Lake Precinct Committee Officer, and eventually State Committeeman. Along with his Cougars, Bill enthusiastically followed the Seattle Seahawks, the Portland Trailblazers, and the Seattle Mariners. Bill fell head over heels for Donna. They married in 1993. Donna said, she will "always be grateful for the best tour guide ever -- Bill." He took her on many wonderful trips around the world, only making reservations ahead of time for airline tickets ! She often guarded their luggage while he secured hotel rooms. After joining the Longview Historic Preservation Commission, Bill designed history-themed calendars and posters, and several walking tour brochures. Those brochures were responsible for Longview being named in 2012 "One of the Ten Most Beautiful Cities in America" by Forbes Magazine. 

Other projects he and Donna were involved in included an historic marker near the pioneer community of Monticello -- the birthplace of Washington Territory; the statue of Longview founder R. A. Long seated at Commerce and Broadway; the welcoming signs to Longview; and the life-sized paintings of early city leaders. Bill "tenaciously nudged" the city into building the gazebo in Civic Center Park after suggesting the bust of Mr. Long be moved to the Public Library steps. When Bill realized Longview had no memorial naming those who had died defending the US since 1941, he raised funds and worked with the city to add those names and additional monuments to the veterans' memorial at the Civic Center flagpole. This year the Longview City Council adopted Bill's proposal to rename the Civic Center Park to recognize these additions. It is now officially the R. A. Long Memorial Park. He was also honored by the city with is first Longview Legacy Award and his 90th Birthday on July 15, 2025 was declared "Bill Kasch Day" for the city.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and stepparents, brother Patrick Lynn Kasch and cousin Patrick Malloy. He is survived by his wife Donna, his siblings Michael David Kasch (Sandy) and Susan Marie Kasch Bundy (Tom), plus numerous nieces and nephews, as well as Donna's children, Rod Seaton (Sun Im) of Lacey, Tonya Smithline of Vancouver, and Shawna Czech (Jeff) of Longview, plus their seven children, and nine grandchildren. Bill's cremated remains will be divided. One portion will be buried next to his mom at Longview Memorial Park. The rest will be "sent down the Columbia River, so I can keep on travelling!" A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, Sept. 5 at 11:00 a.m. at Steele Chapel, Longview.