Lawrence 'Larry' J. Kasper

ASHLAND, Wis. — Lawrence “Larry” J. Kasper, 82, of Ashland, passed away Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, at his residence after a courageous battle with cancer, with his loving family at his side.

Larry was born March 12, 1934, in Hurley, the son of Joseph and Nicolena (Misuraco) Kasper.

He was raised in the Hurley area and graduated from Hurley High School. In 1954, he entered the U.S. Air Force and served until 1957, when he was honorably discharged. After the service, he attended and graduated from Northland College in Ashland.

On June 1, 1963, he was united in marriage to Andrea A. Lischalk in Ashland. He began his teaching career at DePadua High School and later became the vice principal of St. Agnes Junior High. In 1971, he became a math teacher and coach at Bayfield High School. He taught there for more than 21 years and was known in the halls as “Boo.” He was very proud of the fact that he was an educator and enjoyed teaching and coaching very much.

Larry and Andrea owned and operated the Ashland Liquor Store for more than 27 years. For Larry, one of the most important things of each year was the Canadian fly-in fishing trip with his good friend, Bob Lind, and the rest of the crew. Another favorite time of the year was deer season and hunting with his buddy and brother-in-law, David Pocernich. Larry lived for his family and was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Andrea, Ashland; son, Jerry (Denise) Kasper, Ashland; daughter, Tammy (Tom) Nemec, Ashland; grandchildren, Vincent and Sydney Kasper, Alicia (Josh) Potvin, and Seth and Courtney Nemec; great-granddaughter, Fiona Potvin; sisters, Pauline Haanpaa and Rosemarie (Gordon) Koski, all of Ironwood, Mich., and Margaret Gingery, Hurley; brothers- and sisters-in-law, David and Bonnie Pocernich and Tony and Renate Lischalk; brother-in-law, Clifford Muhonen, and many nieces and nephews.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Lena; his father- and mother-in-law, Andrew and Daisy Lischalk; one daughter, Tracy; one brother, Joseph; one sister, Kathleen Muhonen; sisters-in-law, Nancy Fredericks and Faythe Kasper; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Haanpaa and Frank Fredericks; and his fishing pal, Bob Lind.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Larry will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 15, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Ashland with Father Paul Pare, OFM, as celebrant.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., with military honors under the auspices of the United Chequamegon Area Veterans at 7:15 p.m., and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 14, at the Mountain Funeral Home in Ashland.

Interment will take place in St. Agnes Cemetery, Ashland.

Memorials can be made to Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church or Regional Hospice both of Ashland.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Mountain Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ashland and Mellen.

Online condolences for Larry’s family may be left at mountainfuneralhomes.com.