June 26 1949 December 30 2018
James’ Obituary James Paul Kasperson, 69, of Ashland and La Pointe, passed into the next world on Sunday, December 30, 2018, on the Feast of the Holy Family. He was born on June 26, 1949, in South Dakota, and treasured the prairie perspective of a seemingly endless horizon all his life. He was the son of Martin and Esther (Tollfeson) Kasperson, and was proud of his Scandinavian heritage. As a 10-year-old boy he took a trip to Duluth and the North Shore and fell in love with Lake Superior. For the last 32 years of his life, he lived along her shores, serving communities as their pastor, hospice chaplain, art gallery manager, and musician. He lived in and cherished the people and communities of Washburn, Port Wing, Ashland, and Madeline Island. He began his career as a Lutheran minister in Greenbush, MN, where he and his first wife, Jan, began a family with Kaleb and Siri. Their last child, Soren, was born in his second call to Rice Lake, WI. He was a renaissance man, deft in worlds of liturgy, the art of cooking, tying flies for fishing, theology, poetry and prose, eclectic musical genres and instruments: guitar, fiddle, mandolin, penny whistles, button and piano accordions, and jazz piano. And he always expressed joy through laughter, amusing video clips, a turn of a phrase, a red clown nose, and a Donald Duck voice for his grandchildren, no matter what age. The arts were always part of his life wherever he served as a minister. In Rice Lake, he was part of a fiddle band, Home Spun. While pastor in Washburn, he collaborated with guitarist Steven Zdenek Eckels to create a communion liturgy, With Hope and Freedom. He also co-wrote More Teaching Kids to Love with Earth with Marina Lachecki, as well as a children’s book with Karlyn Holman, Little Brother Moose. His last book, These Twelve Days: A Family Guide to After Christmas Celebrations, another collaboration with Marina Lachecki, came while he served Port Wing and Regional Hospice. In retirement and after his first stroke, he managed Woods Hall Gallery and Studios, taught weaving, worked with the Madeline Island Radio Hour, and participated in various musical adventures, including a northern WI/UP tour as a Beguine Brother. His recent musical partnership with Gingie Ward at the Bell Street Art Bar each summer was a life’s dream come true. His last gig was Labor Day weekend. Above all, and throughout his life, his love for and pride in family were paramount. He wrote the following for his 50th Warren. MN High School reunion: In 1972, I married Jan Iverson from Grand Forks. We had three children. Kaleb who with his wife, Candice, are attorneys in Colorado. They have provided three beautiful grandchildren, Chloe, Emmanuelle, and Noah James. My daughter, Siri, lives in Ashland and works for a local food co-op. My youngest son, Soren, worked as a social worker in Duluth, MN until his death in 2014. After 26 year years, Jan and I divorced. Eighteen years ago, I married a UCC pastor, Marina Lachecki. I now have two stepchildren. Ben (and his girlfriend Caitlin Sullivan) who both work at an inner city St. Paul elementary school; and Carolyn who teaches high school English in Pawling, NY (and her husband, Brian Loh, who is a professor at Marist College). In 2017, Jim suffered another stroke and an aortic dissection. He knew he had limited time so from that time forward, he asked the question: What do we do with this miracle? His answer: to love more, to judge less, and be satisfied. Each day was filled with gratitudes. Each day of life was spent laughing, practicing new tunes, posting on Facebook, chatting with his mom, children and grandchildren, and learning about anything new. He had an insatiable appetite for knowledge. His bucket list? I hope my future is lots of time with grandkids ~ and lots more music. He is survived by his wife, Marina Lachecki, daughter Siri and son Kaleb (Candice) and their children, Chloe, Emmanuelle, and Noah James; stepchildren Ben (Caitlin Sullivan) Herman and Carolyn (Brian) Herman Loh; mother, Essie Marzolf; his sister Sue (Michael) Brenna and her son, Alex Lawhorne; and the greater Lachecki, Haugen-Vanvig clans with whom he loved to fish the north country’s rivers and lakes; as well as dear friends and colleagues, musicians and wordsmiths. He was preceded in death by his father, Martin Kasperson; step-father, Thomas Marzolf; his step-brother, T.J. Marzolf; brothers-in-law Steve Lawhorne and Guy Lacelle; and his son, Soren. A Celebration of his Life and Music will be held at the Bayfield, WI Pavilion on Saturday, January 19th, 2019, at 1 PM. Rev. David Saetre and Pastor Regina Laroche will preside. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at 10:30 am at Greenwood Cemetery in Port Wing, WI. The Frost Funeral Home is helping the family make arrangements. They are long-time colleagues and friends of both Jim and Marina. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to: St. John’s UCC or Woods Hall Gallery and Studios on Madeline Island, or Ashland Regional Hospice. Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of James Paul Kasperson June 26 1949 December 30 2018.
Bratley Funeral Home – Washburn
Death notice for the town of: Washburn, state: Wisconsin