W. John Kasper

W. John Kasper, 87, of Morse, died Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at the Solon Nursing Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Solon, with the Rev. James Vrba officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Iowa City. Visitation will be held Monday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City, where a parish rosary will begin at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Church in Solon or Solon Fire and First Responders.

John was born Aug. 1, 1925, in Morse, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Charlotte “Lottie” (Krall) Kasper. Growing up on the family farm near Morse, he graduated from Iowa City High School. John married Magdalen “Mag” Lenoch on Feb. 12, 1947, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City.

John farmed all of his life and the family always enjoyed their travels to Minnesota and Wisconsin, especially the fishing. John and Mag continued these trips to the northwoods after their children were raised. Trips to the Iowa State Fair were a favorite and in later years, the couple wintered in Port Aransas, Texas, for several years.

Survivors include his wife, Mag of Solon; children, Linda Johnson (Dwayne “Jay”) of Iowa City, Barbara Kruzic of Nevada, Iowa, Patricia Spevacek (Gary) of Iowa City and Ed Kasper (Lisa) of Roland, Iowa;

11 grandchildren, Amanda, Cole, Jason, Jacob, Rachel, Amy, Tamara, Travis, Brian, Mike and Katie;

and 11 great-grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Lorna Sanger and her husband, Lester; a brother, Joe and his wife, Amelia; and a niece, Mary DiViggiano.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com

Published Jan. 12, 2013 in The Gazette