GERALDINE CASPER

Geraldine Casper, a lifelong resident of Neenah, passed away at the age of 99 on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the home she had lived in since 1959.  Gerrie, as she preferred to be called, was best known as curator and assistant director at the Bergstrom-Mahler Glass Museum and as wife of Jack Casper, who was executive director of the Boys' and Girls' Brigade from 1951 until his retirement in 1986.  

She was born Geraldine Ruth Jackson on September 11, 1917 to Henry Peter Jackson and Myrtle Rowland Jackson.

Gerrie graduated from Neenah High School at age 16, hoping to study interior design at the University of Wisconsin Madison.  Her father was opposed.  She continued studies in art and art history at the Art Institute of Chicago, and worked in sales and advertising at Neenah Paper Company prior to marrying her husband, Jack Casper, on November 10, 1945. The couple started a sideline photography business after they were married, specializing in children's portraits.  

Jack and Gerrie's life centered on family, friends, their cottage at Jungle Lake, community service and their deep involvement with the growth of the Boy's and Girls' Brigade and Camp Onaway.  She was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Neenah, Rotary's highest honor.

In the late 1960's, Gerrie began researching glass paperweights as an assistant to Evelyn Campbell Cloak, curator of the world-famous collection at the Bergstrom Art Center.  The catalog was published in 1969.  Gerrie succeeded Mrs. Cloak as curator in 1971 and published an updated catalog in 1990.  During her tenure at the museum, she organized international paperweight conferences in Neenah and arranged many exhibits at the museum, including work by renowned glass artists Paul Stankard, and Dale Chihuly, whom she met sharing a cab in the rain en route to a seminar at Corning Museum of Glass.  

Following her retirement, Gerrie continued to lecture and publish articles on paperweights.  In 1991 she wrote Paperweights in The Art Institute of Chicago, described as “A beautiful book with great pictures and ample text describing each paperweight.”

Through the Brigade, Rotary Club and paperweights, the Caspers made friends all over the world.  Gerrie flew in an airplane for the first time in 1971, and in the following four decades traveled to Europe, Australia, Fiji, Scandinavia, Bermuda, and extensively in the United States.  She and Jack maintained many friendships over the years with their handmade Christmas letters and hand-decorated candles.

Gerrie is survived by a sister, Charlotte Jackson of Neenah; her two sons, Bill and Peter (Mary Helen), of Neenah; a daughter Sally (Gary Borisy) of Boston; three grandchildren:  Mary Casper, Los Angeles; Anna Casper, New York; and Jacob Casper, Milwaukee; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, and brother John H. Jackson.  

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2016 with services at 11:00 a.m. at Neenah's Westgor Funeral Home, 205 W. Doty Avenue, Neenah, with Rev. Martin Ruge officiating. Gerrie will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the “Jack Casper Award Fund” at the Boys' and Girls' Brigade, PO Box 665 Neenah WI 54957-0665 and to the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass, 165 N Park Ave, Neenah, WI 54956.