Casey Plantefaber

Surrounded by the crystal blue ocean as the captain of his ship is where Cornelius “Casey” Plantefaber loved to be. Casey was a fun-loving man with a spirit of generosity and a heart that knew no bounds – his tender touch significantly affecting the lives of people far too numerous to count. Casey had an enormous sense of humor and loved to consistently share his laughter with all those placed in his path.

Casey was born and raised in Kalamazoo, the son of Neil and Rita (Metzger) Plantefaber and William H. Culver. Casey attended Barbour Hall Military School and was a 1969 Loy Norrix High School graduate. He was the first male to enroll in Nazareth College when that institution went co-ed in the early 70’s. As a child, Casey’s passions were his dogs (spaniels and Great Dane’s), drafting, art and his drums. He played drums in Barbour Hall’s Drum & Bugle Corps and in high school, with “The Redwoods” band, cut a 45rpm record as their drummer.

Casey always seemed to have a love for the water and his career was certainly a reflection of that passion. Initially, Casey ran the Miami Beach Marina for many years until he became involved with Windjammer Barefoot Cruises, working as a Fleet Captain, having been at the helm of every one of its sailing vessels. This leisure cruise line was based out of Miami, and its ships were former yachts and commercial vessels, refurbished as cruise vessels to accommodate 60-100 paying passengers and 20-40 officers and crewmembers at a time. These ships were refitted to resemble 19th century sailing vessels called windjammers, giving the company its name. Casey's job was a main component in his life as he was truly happiest on the open water. He remained with Windjammer for nearly 30 years, working hard to help others enjoy a relaxing and unique vacation experience.

One of the things that made Casey so special was his gigantic heart, coupled with his spirit of compassion. As a Fleet Captain, Casey insisted that every ship’s captain “adopt an island” to sponsor. Casey chose the very poor and desolate Caribbean island of Mayreau, the smallest inhabited island of the Grenadines, with an area of about one-and-a-half square miles, and a population of about 300. At the time, this island had virtually no commerce and the only school available was off-island for children who had the means. Casey was instrumental in raising funds to establish a local school and annually, he challenged passengers to provide back packs filled with school supplies for the local children. He became a legend on the island and passengers delighted in seeing the children run down the hill to the harbor yelling, “Captain Casey! Captain Casey”! A scholarship in his name has been established to continue providing educational opportunities for the children of this island.

As Casey’s ships began stopping there over a period of years, little “beer shacks” popped up, bringing the islanders other opportunities to earn a decent wage. Casey sponsored “pub crawls” up the hill to the village until he was reprimanded for such an “unbecoming activity”. Not one to deny the villagers the opportunity to earn a living, “Casey’s Cultural Walks” were well attended. Today, the island’s inhabitants earn their living through fishing and also tourism, due in a large part to Casey’s efforts.

There are so many things that one can fill their lives with from material possessions, the praise of others, or lists of accomplishments. To Casey Plantefaber, all that really mattered were the ways in which he could reach out to those who needed a hand and this quest became his driving force. Casey realized that he had so much to give and that often the simplest of things are those which make the greatest impact on the hearts and lives of others. He loved laughter and he loved life, making the most of not only every opportunity, but also every day he was given. It is his warm smile, tender touch, and compassionate spirit that will be missed by all those Casey leaves behind. He will be forever remembered by so many whose lives he greatly enriched in ways both big and small.

Cornelius “Casey” Plantefaber, died on July 23, 2009 at home with his wife, Charmia and his beloved spaniels, Lilly and Harley by his side.

Learn more about Casey and visit with his family and friends while sharing light refreshments on Thursday, August 6, 2009 from 5:00-8:00 PM at the Life Story Funeral Homes, Betzler – Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive, 375-2900, where a formal time of sharing will be held at 7:00 PM. Casey’s surviving family includes his wife, Charmia Nielsen; mother, Rita Culver of Kalamazoo; his sisters: Lois Plantefaber (Patty Maher), Ypsilanti, MI, Mary (Terry) Hamlin, South Haven, MI, Jill (Gil) Culver Jameson, Ellsworth, ME, Helvi (Kelly Culver) Sandvik, Anchorage, AK; brothers, John (Cathryn Ruckle) Culver, Portland, OR, Casey (Liz) Culver, Everett, MA, Josh (Robin) Culver, Woodland Hills, CA, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Casey was preceded in death by his father, Neil Plantefaber in 1968, his “second father” Bill Culver in 1990, and his brother, Kelly Culver in 1999. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can leave a favorite memory or photo, or sign the online guestbook. Information regarding donations to be used for school supplies and scholarships for the children of Mayreau will be available at the funeral home.