Bernard Caspers

Bernard P. "Bernie" Caspers, age 78, formerly of Meire Grove, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at the Benedictine Health Care Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 3 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove with Rev. Dick McGuire officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Bernard Peter Caspers was born June 4, 1934 in Meire Grove, Minnesota to John "Leo" and Thecla (Meyer) Caspers. Bernie graduated from Melrose High School in 1952. On August 19, 1972 he married Rosemary Sowada at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Opole, Minnesota. The couple farmed in Meire Grove until 1998 when they moved to Swanville. Bernie then worked at Ferche Millwork in Rice and owned Custom Sawmill.

Bernie attended St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Meire Grove for most of his life and most recently was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Swanville. He was a sociable person who enjoyed visiting with family and friends. He also enjoyed fishing, farming, and woodworking.

Survivors include his wife, Rosemary Caspers of Roseville; children, Roger (Jill) Caspers of Falcon Heights, Theresa (Chris Weisensel) Caspers of Blaine, Mary (Mark) Massmann of Eagan, Mike (Roxana) Caspers of Gretna, Nebraska, and Denise Caspers of Grand Forks, North Dakota; six grandchildren, Anna, James, and Elizabeth Caspers, Samuel and Abigail Massmann, and Jayden Caspers; sisters, Elvira (Jerome) Grundmayer of Eagan, Jeanette (Norbert) Miller of West Union, and Imelda (Maynard) Sand of St. Wendel; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Bernie was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Sr. Leona (Rosemary) Caspers and Lucy Heinen; and brother-in-law, Dennis Heinen.

Serving as casket bearers will be Mark Grundmayer, Mark Miller, Mike Miller, Joe Sand, John Sand, and Bill Sand. Serving as cross bearer will be Anna Caspers and scripture bearer will be James Caspers. Honorary bearers will be his godchildren, Sue Edwards, Katie Emmel, and Carol Olmsted and gift bearers will be Ann Heinen and Rachel Imdieke.