Obit: Casper, Morris O (1923 – 2009)

Contact: Dolores

Surnames: Casper, Chrisinger, Clipper, Halsey, Stamm, Reetz, Hanson, Ahles-Iverson, Hughes, Myhre, Storlie, Curran, Hagen, Hulett, Joten, Olson, Peterson, Skaar, Wozney, Yeskie,

----Source: Banner Journal (Black River Falls, Jackson Co., WI.) September 30, 2009

Casper, Morris O. (13 March 1923 – 23 September 2009) With Flag

Morris O. Casper, loving husband and father, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.  He passed under the kind and loving care of the Black River Memorial Hospice at Black River Memorial Hospital.  He was 86 years old.

Morris was born March 13, 1923, to Lee and Mildred (Chrisinger) Casper of Hixton.  He graduated from Hixton High School in 1941 and was a welding student at Antigo Technical College before being drafted into the U. S. Army.  He was deployed to Fort Sheridan, IL, and later volunteered to join the 13^th Airborne Division, where he proudly earned his parachute wings. Before being discharged at Camp McCoy, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

He married Eileen Clipper May 1, 1944, in Taylor.

Following his World War II military service, he left Czechoslovakia and moved to Taylor, where he became the parts manager of Casper and Chrisinger and Sons, a John Deere dealership.  In 1964, he purchased the family business and ran it until selling in 1975.  For the next few years he worked at Fort McCoy and ended his career with more very enjoyable years working at Arcadia Implement in Arcadia.

Morris was very active in Taylor community and church functions.  He served as village treasurer for 17 years.  He was an active volunteer fireman, a member of the Rod and Gun Club, the Taylor Commercial Club and the Taylor Lions Club, and he also served as an assistant Boy Scout leader.  For four years, he served as treasurer of the Taylor Lutheran Church; for two years, he served on the board of the Black River Memorial Hospital and for two years, he served on the Jackson County Board. 

Morris was an active member of the Hanson Lien American Legion Post 368 for 65 years.  He enjoyed fishing and traveling, especially going to Canada and spending winters in Florida and Arizona.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Eileen Clipper Casper; three children, Jeffery (Kay) Casper of Raleigh, NC, Jay (Judy) Casper of Hortonville and Maureen (Ray) Halsey of Bradenton, FL; four grandchildren, Todd (Maria) Casper of Copenhagen, Denmark, Matthew Casper of Los Angeles, CA, Carl (Jodi) Stamm of Winneconne and Megan (David) Reetz of Winneconne; three great-grandchildren, Carly and Kacie Stamm and Cohen Reetz; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Elayne and Art Hanson of Portage; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Morris was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Mildred Casper.

Funeral services for Morris O. Casper were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, at the Taylor Lutheran Church with Reverend Benjamin Ahles-Iverson officiating.  Burial took place at Woodlawn Cemetery with military rites by the Hanson-Lien American Legion Post 368.  Visitation was held Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Jensen-Modjeski Funeral Home, Hixton and also one hour prior to services at the church.

Casket bearers were: Matthew Casper, Jerry Chrisinger, Jonathan Hanson, Craig Hughes, Norman Myhre and Randy Storlie.  Honorary bearers were: Todd Casper, John Curran, Guy Hagen, Clark Hulett, John Joten, Todd Olson, Gene Peterson, Darrel Skaar, Jim Wozney and Wallace Yeskie.