Renaldo Castaldi Sr.
April 11, 1947 - December 22, 2020
Plattsburg, Missouri - Renaldo Castaldi Sr., passed away on December 22, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the second son of Domenico Sr., and Jeannette (Desrochers) Castaldi. He grew up in Blackstone, Massachusetts, and attended Blackstone schools. In high school he joined the Navy ROTC. The Vietnam War began his senior year, and he made the decision to join the Army. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. When he returned stateside, he was stationed at the Nike Missile Base in Gardner, Kansas.
While stationed in Gardner he met Diane Widmer, a nurse at the local hospital. They were married and had two sons, Renaldo Castaldi Jr., and Todd Anthony Castaldi. When the boys were young, Renaldo helped with Boy Scouts, and the family attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Gardner. After completing his first Army tour, he joined the Army Special Forces and served until a leg injury at Airborne Jump School ended his time with the Army Green Berets.
Renaldo drove trucks for 24 years with Safeway and served as the President of the Employee Teamsters Union in Kansas City. He attended JCCC and obtained a degree in Electronics. He also served with the 24th Marine Regiment as a sniper, Communications Chief, and Motor Transportation Chief. He completed his final tour of duty in Desert Storm in 1991. He retired with the Marine Corps after serving 20 years in the military.
Renaldo also drove trucks for the United States Postal Service and retired as a dispatcher in May 2020 in Kansas City. He enjoyed deep sea fishing with his brother Domenic and visited family in New England often.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Domenico Sr., and Jeannette Castaldi, his brothers Tony and Dino Castaldi, and his sisters Phyllis Kennelly and Jackie Boudreau. He is survived by his brother Domenic Jr., his sons Renaldo Jr., and Todd Anthony Castaldi, former wife Diane Sawyer, his grandchildren Maddison, Justin, Joey, Cara, and Cameron Castaldi, his partner Cheri Bunnell, her daughter Wendy Bunnell, and Wendy's children Cheyanne, Cash, and Cayse Fitzpatrick.
A graveside service will be held Friday, March 5, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. at Leavenworth National Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, masks are required and attendees must stay at their vehicles.
Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project .