SSG John Vincent "Casey" Casciano, US Army (Ret.)

John Vincent Casciano, better known as Casey to his southern friends and family, passed away peacefully at his home on September 17, 2023, at the age of 82. He was born and raised in Bayonne, NJ, where he attended Bayonne High School. Casey was an avid fan of basketball and was an outstanding player during his high school years. He won many trophies and awards and was noted in many local newspapers. Shortly after high school, Casey joined the US Army where he had multiple duty assignments to include Alaska, California, Korea, Panama, Fort Jackson, and Italy. After returning from Italy, he returned to Fort Jackson where he retired in 1987 and settled down. After retiring from the Army, Casey worked for the US Government, where he was employed in the office of hearings and appeals as a hearings clerk. He retired in 2011. Casey refereed basketball throughout his Army career and even after retirement. He refereed with the SCISA League (South Carolina Independent Schools Association) for many years. He was also a devout Christian. His faith in Christ led him to join the Kairos Prison Ministries in the mid 1980’s where with his fellow teammates they would educate the incarcerated about Christ. He was a member of two churches in the Columbia area over the years with the last being The Anglican Cathedral Church of the Epiphany. Survivors include his wife Edna “Happy” Sanders Casciano; his daughter, Angela Casciano Torres (Steven); son, Michael J. Casciano of California, as well as Glenn Layton and Michael Howle (Lynn). He also leaves behind his sister, Claire Zielaznicki, many nieces and nephews to include Laura Zielaznicki, Mark Zielaznicki (Tina), Jeffrey Zielaznicki (Mary Jo), Aidan Zielaznicki, Vincent Casciano (Brittany), Vincenzo Casciano and Mia Casciano, as well as his three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Casey is preceded in death by his mother, Edna M. (Taylor) Casciano; his father, John F. Casciano and his brother, Vincent Robert Casciano. A Burial Office will be held at 11 o’clock on Monday, September 25th at the Anglican Cathedral Church of the Epiphany, 5212 N. Beltline Blvd, Columbia, SC. Burial will follow at 1 o’clock at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, SC. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 o’clock Sunday, September 24th at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, SC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests, if you are so led, to make a donation in Casey’s name to the Kairos Prison Ministries at PO Box 22421, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 or online at https://www.kairosofsouthcarolina.org/donate.html or to The Anglican Cathedral Church of the Epiphany at 2512 N Beltline Blvd, Columbia SC, 29204. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, is assisting the family and will announce further plans.

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SSG John Vincent "Casey" Casciano, US Army (Ret.)

January 26, 1941 - September 17, 2023