John C. Kaspar Sr., age 89, of North Platte, Nebraska, passed away Sunday, July 19, 2026, at Great Plains Health.
John was born March 3, 1937, in Schuyler, Nebraska, to Frank and Helen (Ehrnburger) Kaspar. John lived in Omaha in his younger years before moving to Keystone, Nebraska. There John graduated from Ogallala High School before enlisting in the Air Force to serve his country. He served from 1956 to 1960 before returning home. Once home, he met and married Wanda Pierce, and the happy couple moved to North Platte in 1970.
There he started his career on the Union Pacific Railroad, working his way through the ranks all the way up to foreman. While working, John achieved an Associates Degree and welding certification at Mid Plains Community College. His love of the trade inspired him to stay at the college as an instructor for some time. He also found a passion for bowling, joining a league and coaching kids in his spare time. After the untimely passing of his wife Wanda, John remarried to Barbara Thieman in April of 1998, completing his family. John continued working till his retirement in 2004.
John was a man who couldn’t stand to sit still. When not working, he filled his time with hobbies. John loved fishing. He loved to build and took great pride in his woodworking and his lawn maintenance. Those who knew him remember him as a good guy who loved having fun and cracking jokes. He was a jokester to the end, always trying to get one more smile out of his loved ones. Though he loved his whole family, John was especially fond of his grandchildren. At Grandpa’s house, there were no rules and indoor catch was a great pastime. John was the biggest kid of all and never let go of his inner child.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters Susan (Raymond) Isaac and Shelley (Bud) Parks; daughter-in-law Laura (William) Kaspar Hills; grandchildren Randie (Bill) Westman, Lindsey (Joshua) Isaac, Joshua (Josie) Watts, Stephanie Noyce, Megan (Frankie) Ruiz, Andrew (Shelly) Parks, Jerry (Morgan) Parks, Jay Kaspar, Luke Kaspar, and Bella Kaspar; great-grandchildren Shawn, Espen, Mason, and Lyla; sister Carol Mumm; caregiver and companion Lorna Alexander; and many more friends and family.
John is preceded in death by his first wife Wanda and second wife Barb; son John Kaspar Jr.; parents Frank and Helen; and brother Bernard Kaspar.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with Mike Morrell as Celebrant. Burial will follow at For McPherson National Cemetery at 1 p.m. Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from noon to 7 p.m., with family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which has been entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family for future designation. Online condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared at adamsswanson.com.