Obituary for Peter J. Kasper, Sr.
March 24, 1931 - March 8, 2018
McHenry, Illinois | Age 86
Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-grandfather and Brother

Peter J. Kasper, Sr., age 86, of McHenry, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on March 24, 1931, the son of Simeon and Marie (nee Buck) Kasper. On August 25, 1973, he married Lois C. Brefeld at St. Mary's Catholic Church in McHenry
Peter worked out of his home doing appliance repair for 10 years before becoming part owner of Carey Appliance for 40 years. He also worked as a nuclear technician during his time serving in the Army. Peter was a choir member at St. Mary's Catholic Church for over 25 years. In his spare time, Peter enjoyed sail boating, wind surfing and fishing. He especially enjoyed making things with wood and metal and spending time with his family. They will miss him very much.
He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Lois; dear children: Peter J. (Naomie Jackson) Kasper, Jr., of Harvard, Pamela Ann Kasper of Phenix City, AL; children: Catherine Ann Dalton of Johnsburg, Cynthia Joan Johnson of Woodstock; cherished grandchildren: Peter J. (Jenna) Kasper III, Daniel (Lita) L. Kasper, Matthew J. Dalton, Nicholas (Crystal) J. Daminao, Anna Damiano; beloved great-grandchildren: Landon, Genevieve, Jackson, Samuel, Diamond, Sapphire, Jasper, Jett; sister: Jeanne Storey of Hoffman Estates.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sisters: Marie Norris, Margaret Hanneman, Patricia Wood and brother: James Kasper.
Visitation will be held on Monday March 12, 2018, from 4:00p.m. until time of prayer at 7:30p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home & Crematory, 591 Ridgeview Drive, McHenry. Funeral Mass will be at 11:00a.m. on Tuesday March 13, 2018 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1401 N. Richmond Road, McHenry. Interment will be private.
Memorial donations can be made in Peter's name to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1401 N. Richmond Road, McHenry, IL 60050.


Peter Joseph Kasper Sr Eulogy
By Catherine Ann Dalton read during the Funeral Mass

Hello,

My name is Catherine and I am Peter's daughter. Peter was a true gift from God!

After my mother and father divorced, when I was 11, I so wanted a wonderful stepfather and older brother. I knew if my mother remarried and had other children, they would be younger.

I didn't know how that would be possible, but it never deterred my request to God. Not only did God hear my prayer, He graciously blessed me with Peter, Pete, and an extra special bonus, my sister, Pamela.

All I know is nothing is impossible for God. Here I am, a part of the most loving blended family ever.

Thank you, Peter, for loving me unconditionally and blessing my life. And as Peter always told me, “I love you even though." Peter, I love you so very much. You will be missed dearly; and you will forever be in a special place in my heart.


Peter Joseph Kasper Sr Eulogy
By Matthew Dalton read by Catherine Ann Dalton during the Funeral Mass

The best memory I have of Grandpa is his love of technology and his brilliance.

I remember when the computers had just come out and he loved toying with them. He was so amazed by the technology. He had ·a better understanding of it than I did as a young person who grew up with technology.

It blew my mind that he had figured it all out on his own. No one I know has a mind as sharp as he did.

I try to emulate that thinking within myself so maybe some day I'll be as smart.

I'll never forget you, Grandpa, your wisdom, your love of life or your teachings. I only wish I had the time to learn more from you.

You're always in my thoughts and one day we'll meet again. Don't take any wooden nickels, Grandpa.

Love, Matt


Peter Joseph Kasper Sr Eulogy
By Rick Storey read during the lunceon after the Funeral Mass. A slideshow accompanied the eulogy. Video can be found at https://youtu.be/6W_50ymM4jw

For those of you that don’t know me my Name is Rick Storey. Peter Joseph Kasper Sr is the brother of my mother Jeanne Katherine Storey.

I would like to share with you who Uncle Pete was to me.

I know very little of his childhood but after my mom passed a year ago we found a letter that my mom wrote to her mother, Marie back in the late 1930’s. Marie Kasper was in the hospital and my mom, age 14, was in quarantine with small pox. The letter went on to say how good she is being good but Peter, age 7, was being a stinker and that she would try to be nice to him for her sake. She also mentioned later in the letter how she broke out of quarantine to go on a date to see Gone with the Wind so we must keep things in perspective.

My memories of Uncle Pete go back to my early childhood. Growing up most Thanksgiving, Christmas and some Easter holidays were spent with my Aunts, Uncles and cousins at my parent’s house. Uncle Bud and Uncle Pete would start talking about some invention or how to solve some problem and you couldn’t get their attention if the house was on fire around them.

Now I don’t know how my mom could have said such things about Uncle Pete in her letter. When Uncle Pete wasn’t talking to Uncle Bud he was always very quiet and reserved. He never made a spectacle out of himself. I don’t know what my mom was talking about.

As I got older I have such fond memories of visiting Uncle Pete who took us kids out ice fishing in the winter and fishing from the pier in the summer. He taught us how to catch, clean, and cook blue gills fresh from the lake behind his house. I looked at Uncle Pete as one of the most interesting and smartest men I had or will ever know.

To me he was a cross between McGuiver and Albert Einstein.

Uncle Pete was always there for my family. He taught my kids to bait, catch and release their own fish. He was Matt’s sponsor for his confirmation.
He always had time to come out and fix one of our appliances or talk me through it over the phone. When we would visit Uncle Pete and Aunt Lois they were the best hosts. Uncle Pete always made sure everyone had enough to eat.

Here was a man that could rebuild a car or build his own home or a telescope to track the stars or build a model remote controlled boat that was better than anything on the market. Even in his 80’s he could still sail his boat or swim in his lake. To me it wasn’t the 4th of July unless I was watching the firework from his peer.

Uncle Pete took to computers and smartphones like a fish to water. He was always excited to show you the latest app he got or the latest trick he learned. One of my best memories was a vacation we took together when Uncle Pete was 80. 12 of us, age 2 to 80, took the train to Glacier National Park. There was Sue, Matt, Andrea, Rebecca and me. Jim, Cassie and Trevor. Pete and Naomie and Uncle Pete and Aunt Lois. We were a captive audience, on the train for 28 hours, to Uncle Pete and his iPhone. It was the best vacation and I am so happy I will always have those memories.

A few years later you could see Uncle Pete starting to slow down. Here was a man who at 80 had more energy than most children. He knew it was happening and commented on how his get up had go got up and gone. He knew that old age was finally setting in. After he found out that he only had 6 to 9 weeks to live he handled the news with dignity and a sense of humor that was typical of Uncle Pete.

Uncle Lane, Aunt Pat, Terry, Sue, Jim, Cassie, Trevor, Nathan and I had dinner with Uncle Pete and Aunt Lois at Pete at Naomie’s house on December 17th. 2017. Uncle Pete joked about going into the next life with his iPhone. He wanted to be buried with it. That night he said that he had accepted his fate and the only thing he asked is that he have a funeral just like his sister Jeanne. He wanted everyone to celebrate his life not morn his passing. Well I can just imagine the kind of party the Kapser’s are having in Heaven now that they are all reunited.

I have one final story to share with you before I close. When Uncle Pete found out he was going to die the Kapser’s went out to start making Funeral Arrangements.

I knew they were going, so on Tuesday January 23rd, 2018 I sent Naomie a text to see If Uncle Pete had purchased his casket yet.

Naomie replied:
Lol he’s getting cremated but they are renting a casket for vacation and it’s all arranged.

Well I read that a couple of times and then I replied:
WHAT??? Renting??? Vacation???

Now 2 minutes passed without a response from Naomie and I am envisioning Uncle Pete saying to Aunt Lois – Come on Lois lets take this casket for a test drive. I felt it was not out of the realm of possibility.

Well finally the silence was broken and Naomie replied:
Lol Visitation.

She was laughing so hard she couldn’t type and by this time I had tears in my eyes.

You see that is how this family is. There is always time for a good laugh.

In closing I would like to end with the immortal words of Peter J Kasper Sr.
Don’t worry about us Uncle Pete. We will be fine, God willing and the creek don’t rise.