Kenneth L. Casteel Obituary

Kenneth Loyd Casteel, 84, passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in Houston, Texas. Kenneth lived a remarkable and adventurous life, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and a willingness to dream big—and then make those dreams come true.
Please join his family for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Lula’s Place Venue, 9411 Plantation Dr., Canyon, Texas.
Kenneth was born May 2, 1942, in Lakeview, Texas, and was raised in Hall County, as he always said, on a dry-land farm. He was one of 11 children born to C.I. and Vera Casteel and was their last surviving child.
Kenneth was known for his unmistakable smile, ornery grin, prankster personality, and incredible work ethic. He had a way of drawing people to him and earning their respect.
As a young man, Kenneth joined the U.S. Army, but his military service was cut short when he was discharged due to a past football-related knee injury. He returned to the area and worked a variety of jobs, including working at a gas station and setting tile, always willing to learn a new trade and work hard to provide for his family. Oftentimes, he worked two jobs.
His career eventually led him into the fire sprinkler industry, where he became a sprinkler fitter and developed a deep love for the trade. In the early ’70s, Kenneth changed careers and moved his family to Clarendon, Texas, where he owned and operated Casteel Plumbing and Remodeling.
He returned to the fire sprinkler business, and on February 14, 1974, Kenneth and his brother, Dale, opened Casteel Brothers Automatic Fire Protection in Amarillo, Texas. In 1979, Kenneth took over the company, which became known as Casteel Automatic Fire Protection. Under his leadership, the company grew from a local business into a successful operation with locations in Amarillo, Austin, Houston, and Lubbock.
In the ’90s, Kenneth moved to the Houston area, where he continued to serve as president of his company for more than 52 years, until his death. Throughout his career, he became affectionately known in the industry as “Boss Man” and he was often referred to as the “Godfather of the Sprinkler Business.” Many employees learned the sprinkler business under his guidance, and the knowledge and passion he passed along became an important part of his lasting legacy.
Kenneth was a dreamer and a visionary. If he could imagine it, he believed he could accomplish it—and more often than not, he did. He dreamed of building an underground home, and he made that dream a reality. At age 34, he decided he wanted to become a pilot, and he did.
Kenneth was a figure-eight race car driver, played tennis, snow- and water-skied, and loved flying his airplane to the horse races. He enjoyed deep-sea fishing from his boat out of Galveston, snowmobiling in Wisconsin, and could always be talked into a game of pool. He also enjoyed bird hunting and gambling, especially blackjack, and even had a favorite slot machine.
If you spent much time talking with him, you knew he liked Donald Trump and Fox News. He was also a great admirer of Dolly Parton. And if you knew Kenneth in the 1970s and 1980s, you probably remember his signature classic look: ostrich Western boots, jeans, and a leisure jacket.
Kenneth—Ken to some, Daddy and Poppy to his family—is survived by his wife; his daughters, Jamie Kay Plasencio and husband Joe of Midland; and Angela “Angie” Johnston and fiancé Jim Carr of Canyon; his grandchildren, Summer Puckett; Colt Puckett and wife Justine of Luling; Jarrett Johnston and wife Eranne of Amarillo; and Bradon Johnston of Fort Worth, Texas; his great-grandchildren, Bentley Puckett, Aleyah Olgin, Izayah Olgin, Sienna Johnston, and Noa Johnston; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents, all of his siblings and their spouses, and his great-grandson, Elijah House.
Though Kenneth is no longer here to tell the next story, teach another employee the trade, take another flight, or share his next adventure, he was loved so very much by his family and friends, and we will always remember him.
A special thank-you to the Casteel Automatic Fire Protection employees of Amarillo, Austin, Houston and Lubbock, past and present; Farron Casteel, Kenneth’s nephew and the longest-serving employee; the caregivers, especially Roslyn and Toni; care counselor, Andrea; and Rusty and his staff at Serenity Gardens of Friendswood.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Kenneth Casteel Memorial Scholarship at Opportunity Plan, 504 24th Street, Canyon, Texas 79015, 806-655-2528.