James Michael Casper, 80, passed away at 12:21 Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at his home. Jim Casper was deeply in love with his wife Laura Elaine, a lifelong head coach to his 6 children and 13 grandchildren and because no one was a stranger, a good friend to nearly everyone he met. He was intensely passionate about his work, his family and his relationship with Jesus Christ. He had an ornery sense of humor and loved to make others laugh. His intensity of spirit combined with his joyful approach to life inspired his children and friends and motivated the many athletes he coached and the individuals he managed throughout his career.
Jim loved to laugh. It was probably important to keep a sharp wit as the youngest child of Greek immigrant Nikolaus Scarpetis (Casper) and Volga German Immigrant Anna Knoll. James Michael “Jimmy” Casper was born in Hays, Kansas in 1936. He was the athlete in an eclectic family of soldiers, laborers and entrepreneurs. The importance of hard work was instilled in Jimmy from a very young age but equally important was gathering with family and friends to share laughter, German fare and music. The Caspers loved music and many gatherings concluded with guitar playing and singing. Jim built a similarly eclectic family who have participated in sports, music and theatre programs throughout their lives. Like Jim, his family maintains a healthy sense of humor and they find time to laugh together often. Jim Casper was a stand-out athlete for the Hays High School Indians as well as for his alma mater, Fort Hays State University. He remains in the annals of Kansas High School Legends for both his skill as an athlete and his talent as a coach. One of his proudest moments was coaching the 1975 Hayden High School Boys Cross Country Team to the first State Championship of any sport in School history.
He met his wife Elaine at the Fort Hays State University Coliseum where they were enrolling for Fall classes. She was a sophomore and he was enrolling after his honorable discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps. Jim was at the bottom of a long ramp and as Elaine approached, he offered her a drink from the drinking fountain. Elaine thought “who is this character?” but accepted the drink and began thinking about how to set him up with her friend Vicki. Jim was not her type. According to Casper family lore, he was planning to marry her that day. He persisted and convinced Elaine to marry him in 1962. He received his undergraduate degree from Fort Hays State University in 1964 while supporting his new wife and first daughter, Stephanie Michelle. In preparation for his future role as a coach, Jim and Elaine added 5 additional members to their team: Sarah Elizabeth, Timothy David, Todd Matthew, Suzanne Renee and Thomas Andrew.
Jim was a distinguished educator and coach in the State of Kansas. Early in his career he taught at Lakin Elementary School, followed by Wellington Junior High, where he coached a summer baseball team to successful play in the Babe Ruth World Series in Klamath Falls Oregon. In 1969, his good friend and colleague, Leroy Brungardt offered him the opportunity to join him as an assistant football coach at Hayden High School in Topeka, Kansas where he would also serve as a memorable physical education teacher. This is where he found considerable success in future years as a Cross Country and Track and Field coach. While he worked at Hayden High School he also completed his Masters degree in Psychology in 1975 from Emporia State University. This would inspire his next career in Human Resources management for three Kansas companies, Hutchinson Royal in Clay Center, Kansas, Ace Electric in Columbus, Kansas and Cobalt Boats in Neodesha, Kansas.
He immersed himself in the communities where he lived. Jim was instrumental in building the first baseball field in Clay Center, Kansas where he coached his sons to success in the Clay Center Baseball league. He moved the family to Pittsburg, Kansas and coached his children and grandchildren from the stands as they matriculated through Pittsburg, High School. He was actively involved in St. Peter’s Church. He also created, with loyal friend Bill Brooks, the “follow me in café” breakfast at St. Peter’s that continues today.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and 7 of his brothers and sisters, Harry, Don, George, Martha, Pauline, Nick and Paul and 2 beloved grandchildren Nicholas and John Patrick Short. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Laura Elaine and family including: Stephanie Grinage and son-in-law Richard; Sarah Short, son-in-law John Short and children Alaura and Kathryn; Timothy Casper and daughters, Andie Stalder, her husband Garrett Stalder, Allison and Abigail Casper and Timothy's partner Jennifer Crozier; Todd Casper, daughter-in-law Julie, sons Matthew Casper and Michael Lowe; Suzanne Steele and son-in-law Walter Steele and children Trisha Steele, Sturling Steele and his wife Tara; Thomas Casper and daughter-in-law Heidi Casper and children Hannah, Sophie, TJ, Sadie and Michael Casper.
Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday (Feb. 17) at the St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 304 W. Euclid in Pittsburg, with Father William Wolff officiating. A private family burial will be at a later date. The family will receive friends following the service. The family suggests memorials to St. Peters Episcopal Church and/or The Short Family Fine Arts Scholarship Fund. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.
Jim was a distinguished educator and coach in the State of Kansas. Early in his career he taught at Lakin Elementary School, followed by Wellington Junior High, where he coached a summer baseball team to successful play in the Babe Ruth World Series in Klamath Falls Oregon. In 1969, his good friend and colleague, Leroy Brungardt offered him the opportunity to join him as an assistant football coach at Hayden High School in Topeka, Kansas where he would also serve as a memorable physical education teacher. This is where he found considerable success in future years as a Cross Country and Track and Field coach. While he worked at Hayden High School he also completed his Masters degree in Psychology in 1975 from Emporia State University. This would inspire his next career in Human Resources management for three Kansas companies, Hutchinson Royal in Clay Center, Kansas, Ace Electric in Columbus, Kansas and Cobalt Boats in Neodesha, Kansas.
He immersed himself in the communities where he lived. Jim was instrumental in building the first baseball field in Clay Center, Kansas where he coached his sons to success in the Clay Center Baseball league. He moved the family to Pittsburg, Kansas and coached his children and grandchildren from the stands as they matriculated through Pittsburg, High School. He was actively involved in St. Peter’s Church. He also created, with loyal friend Bill Brooks, the “follow me in café” breakfast at St. Peter’s that continues today.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and 7 of his brothers and sisters, Harry, Don, George, Martha, Pauline, Nick and Paul and 2 beloved grandchildren Nicholas and John Patrick Short. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Laura Elaine and family including: Stephanie Grinage and son-in-law Richard; Sarah Short, son-in-law John Short and children Alaura and Kathryn; Timothy Casper and daughters, Andie Stalder, her husband Garrett Stalder, Allison and Abigail Casper and Timothy's partner Jennifer Crozier; Todd Casper, daughter-in-law Julie, sons Matthew Casper and Michael Lowe; Suzanne Steele and son-in-law Walter Steele and children Trisha Steele, Sturling Steele and his wife Tara; Thomas Casper and daughter-in-law Heidi Casper and children Hannah, Sophie, TJ, Sadie and Michael Casper.
Memorial services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday (Feb. 17) at the St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 304 W. Euclid in Pittsburg, with Father William Wolff officiating. A private family burial will be at a later date. The family will receive friends following the service. The family suggests memorials to St. Peters Episcopal Church and/or The Short Family Fine Arts Scholarship Fund. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.
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