Jeanette Southmayd Caspari

Jeanette Addah Southmayd Caspari, passed into Eternity on Friday, June 25, 2010 at the age of 98. Jeanette was born and raised in Bayfield, Wisconsin, and earned a bachelor’s degree at Whitewater State Teachers College before devoting her life to helping others.  Her husband died in 1943 when, as a widow with a new baby, Jeanette promised her pastor of Washington Park Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee that she would help as church secretary for one year. Instead, she worked for the church for 42 years, serving as its administrator as it grew and became Trinity Presbyterian Church, the state’s largest Presbyterian congregation. However, Jeanette was more than an administrator as a friend and comfort to the church’s many members as well as others who came to its doors in need of help and counsel. As the Milwaukee Sentinel called her in a story at the time of her retirement, she was “a pastor without a pulpit.” After retirement, she remained very active in her faith and in her continued service to others. When not at work, Jeanette devoted her long life to her family.  She was an inspiration to everyone around her, always taking care of those whom she loved. In her 98 years of life, Jeanette grew to be the leader of the family, and she will be greatly missed.   She left this earth blowing her kisses and letting everyone know that she loves you all more than you will ever know.  The beloved mother of John E. Caspari and grandmother of John McBride Caspari (Laura) and Catherine Southmayd Caspari. She will also be greatly missed by her sister Patricia (Wilbur) Marsh and her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband Edmund J. Caspari, sisters Virginia (Walter) Torke , Madeline (Paul) Hunter and Georgia (Rex) Cooke and sisters-in-law Alice Caspari and Marion (Harold) Jungbluth. Visitation Tuesday, June 29, 2010 from 10:00AM until the 11:30AM funeral service at Jerusalem Presbyterian Church, 207 W. Main Street, Wales, WI 53183. Burial will be at Pinelawn Memorial Park. Memorials are appreciated to Jerusalem Presbyterian Church (address above) or Trinity Presbyterian Church, 3302 N. Sherman Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53216. For further information, please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at (262) 547-4035, or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave an on-line tribute.