Born in Portland, Oregon, growing up first in the Lents neighborhood and then the St. Johns area, Capt. Kasch was a Columbia River Pilot for 25 years and a tugboat skipper for Shaver Transportation many years before that. He was an admired member of the local marine transportation community for his entire adult life. When he retired, Dave and his fellow retired pilot, Capt. Jack Taylor and many dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to resurrect the Sternwheeler Portland, an important reminder of Portland's maritime history. The Portland is now a functioning vessel and is the home of the Oregon Maritime Museum, moored at the seawall in downtown Portland. Both Dave and Jack had skippered the Portland in her earlier years as a working ship assist tug and were both very proud to have run her. Capt. Kasch was a member of the Veteran Steamboatmen Association and The Oregon Maritime History Assn. and a lifelong member of the Masonic lodge. Dave was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Deloros Charlene Kasch, his parents James Kasch and Clara Neilson Kasch Kaady, his brothers Earl, Floyd, Lourie, Fred, Paul and Elvin, step-son Gregory France and is survived by his children Sharen Johnson, Diane Kasch, Laurie Hauglie and David Kevin Kasch, sister-in-laws Greta Kasch, Mickey (Lucille) Horn, granddaughters Nicole Gilbert, Angela Donaldson, Erica Lawrence, grandson Ryan Johnson, 5 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Dave was an avid gardener, especially proud of his dozens of rose bushes, and loved sport fishing since he was a boy, especially angling for salmon. He joined the US Navy in 1942 on his 17th birthday, served almost 4 years on a remote island in the South Pacific and was proud of his service during World War II. Dave was well loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. A service will be held for Capt. Kasch on Saturday, June 6th 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Hustad Funeral Home, 7232 N. Richmond Avenue, Portland, Oregon.