Memorial

Roderick Rae Caszatt, 83, passed away from this life the morning of September 18, 2026, after a courageous fistfight with myasthenia gravis and leaving behind family and friends who loved him fiercely.  Services will be held Thursday, October 1, 2026, 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids.   The visitation, at the Church, will begin at 9:30 am through 11:00 am.  A private family burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.  

Rod was born March 1, 1943, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, to Gaylord and Dorothy (Russ) Caszatt.  He was raised in Michigan, graduating from Benton Harbor High School and Lake Michigan College, with further study at Columbia College, Chicago, and Wayne State University, Detroit.

He married Betsy Mallett on September 11, 1965 in Stevensville, Michigan.  Son, Chad Roderick, bounded into this union in 1969 and a rollicking family dynamic (punctuated by Chad’s ever-present posse of buds) was launched.

Rod’s broadcasting career began at WZZM-TV (ABC) in Grand Rapids where he was Public Affairs Director, producing programming with guests including then- Congressman Gerald Ford, Jane Fonda, Dr. Linus Pauling and a host of other newsmakers of the time.  He traveled coast-to-coast as a producer of “Sickle-Cell Anemia, Paradox of Neglect”, a documentary that received a national Emmy, a Peabody and Michigan Associated Press awards.  Rod also was recognized by the Michigan Education Association, Michigan Cancer Society and the Associated Press for editorial writing.

Rod helped launch the promotion department at KWWL-TV in Waterloo and was promotion director at KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids, where he produced a Phil Donahue Show from the Five Seasons Center during the Midwest farm crisis.  He then pursued his love of video production, art and design at Jordan Creative and retired as a graphic designer in the marketing department at Kirkwood Community College.  He then founded Blue Sky Business Graphics – mostly for fun.

Rod was an involved member of First Presbyterian Church where he served on the Session, Board of Deacons and media committees, created artwork and videos and volunteered with Family Promise of Linn County.  He was earlier involved with Junior Achievement and Celebration of the Arts in Grand Rapids, as well as the Waterloo Community Playhouse Board of Directors and the kickoff of My Waterloo Days.

He and Betsy built valued family memories on frequent travel to Lake Michigan, as well as New York City and the West with Chad and treasured their time together in England and France.  Rod was well-known for his dry sense of humor and easy laugh.

Rod is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betsy; son, Chad (Kristin) of Dubuque; grandchildren Oliven Caszatt of Mt. Vernon; Alexandria (Jonathan) Caszatt Niblett of Phoenix, AZ; Sarah (Aaron) Caszatt Sigsbee of Mesa, AZ; great grandsons, Jamison Caszett and Jace Niblett; great granddaughters, Adrianna, Anastacia and Aurora (Niblett); brother, Terry (Marlene) Caszatt of Alden, MI; sister-in-law, Lori Brakeman of Orange City, FL; brothers-in-law, Lowell Mallett of Gladwin, MI; Gordon (Janet) Mallett of Big Rapids, MI; and numerous artistic, musical, and accomplished nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Christopher Mallett Caszatt; his parents and parents-in-law, Gaylord and Dorothy Caszatt and Lloyd and Dorothy Mallett; brother-in-law, Dr. Louis Brakeman and sister-in-law, Elizabeth Mallett.

For those wishing to honor Rod’s life, his family suggests giving to the “Downtown for Good” work of First Presbyterian Church: 315 Fifth Street, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401; or Doctors Without Borders, PO Box 5023, Hagerstown, MD 21741.