John Caspers

John L. Caspers, age 88 of Melrose, died peacefully on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at his home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 8 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Rev. Marvin Enneking will officiate with Rev. Vince Lieser concelebrating. A private family inurnment will take place at a later date in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Knights of Columbus will pray at 6 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

John Lawrence Caspers was born October 2, 1926 in Meire Grove, Minnesota to Nicholas and Susan (Kulzer) Caspers. On June 4, 1951 he married Bertilla Katherine Sand at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in New Munich. John work as a genetics technician in the dairy cattle business. After driving from farm to farm on the country roads he came home to water his potato and strawberry garden and ride his bike "around the horn." John taught firearm safety and hunted elk in Big Horn Mt., Wyoming for many years, white tail deer in Paul Bunyan State Forest, pheasant and geese in the nearby fields, and the occasional giant snapping turtle that lives in the river behind the house. He fished every lake in the area, and when he caught a "keeper" he coined the phrase, "This one is going to Melrose." He fed his family year round, venison, goose, elk, pheasant, walleye, northerns, and trout. Once he brought home bear meat. He loved the sound of the woods, of geese overhead, of geese falling. He loved the taste of game. He shot his last goose on August 8th, cooked it up in his crock pot, and ate it.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1633. For many years, he taught religious education; served as Eucharistic Minister and a sponsor for engaged couples. John and Bertilla were long-time members of the Eager Beaver Twirlers Square Dance Club. He loved square dancing, couples dancing and line dancing, sometimes inventing his own steps in the kitchen. Every morning he solved the Saint Cloud Times word jumbles faster than anyone else in the family; he also loved playing Bridge, 500, and Smear, usually winning by any means. In retirement he continued fishing, hunting, and watching and feeding birds.

Survivors include his wife, Bertilla Caspers of Melrose; children, Debra (Jerry Glantz) Caspers of Lake Elmo, Steven (Polly Smull) Caspers of Minneapolis, Julee (Ben) Agar of Westby, WI, Nona Caspers of San Francisco, CA, Philip (Christy) Caspers of Bloomington, John (Allyson) Caspers of Woodbury, Mary Kaye (Glen) Schneider of Loretto, and Joel Caspers of Chaska; 20 grandchildren, Rachel, Mara, Leah, and Caleb Glantz, Orlee and Clae Smull, Erin Barstad, Hannah and Cole Agar, McKenna, Nick, Jack, and Caelen Caspers, Kyle, Sean, and Olivia Caspers, Kelsea, Alaini, Noah, and Emma Schneider; nine great-grandchildren, Charles Wilform, Amelie, Elijah, and Indigo Bailey, Reed and Leo Barstad, Mischa Jorenby, Hugo Glantz, and Amina Agar; brother, Alcuin Caspers of Meire Grove; sister-in-law, Ginger Caspers of Chula Vista, CA; and brother-in-law, John Cremers of Baxter. We loved him dearly and will miss his stories, jokes, and odd quick-minded surprising sense of humor.

John was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Katie Athman-Caspers; daughter-in-law, Jamie Caspers Jorgenson; sisters, Marian McCarthy, Sister Howard, O.S.B., Lauretta Jansen, Eileen Cremers, and Renata Caspers; brothers, Ray, Luverne, and Norbert Caspers; brothers and sister-in-law, James McCarthy, Art Jansen, and Celine Caspers; nephew, Tom Cremers; and niece, Mari Jansen.

Serving as casket bearers will be Kyle Caspers, Sean Caspers, Caleb Glantz, Cole Agar, Nick Caspers, Jack Caspers, and Noah Schneider. Cross bearer will be Kelsea Schneider and scripture bearer will be McKenna Caspers. Gift bearers will be Olivia Caspers, Emma Schneider, and Caelen Caspers. Eucharist Minister will be Leo Meyer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.