Simon William Kasparek

Simon William "Sam" Kasparek was born Jan. 24, 1916, in Orange Township, Adams County, N.D., to Joseph and Anna (Schaltz) Kasparek. He attended school in Orange Township. In his youth he trailed livestock to Lemmon for BL Penfield to be sold at auctions in Lemmon. He also summered cattle in the Athboy area for his father while living in a covered wagon. At an early age he hopped a freight train to Iowa and Washington to look for work. Sam was united in marriage to Viola Moser on Feb. 28, 1938, at Hettinger, N.D. In 1945 and 1946, he went to work in the shipyards in Washington. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Aug. 6, 1946, and was discharged on Dec. 30, 1946. They farmed on his parent's farm north of Lemmon for many years. While living on the farm, four children Audrey, LaVVonne, David, and Rodney were born. The family then moved to Moses Lake, where Russel and Dawn were born. Sam and Viola lived in Moses Lake for 54 years where he farmed and did custom haying until his retirement. Due to his failing health, he was forced to retire, but they continued to operate a hobby farm where they raised bucket calves and horses. Viola passed away on Dec. 14, 2002. Simon moved to Lemmon in 2002 and then to Mott, where he resided at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center for the past three months. He passed from this life there early Tuesday morning, April 10, at the age of 91 years, 2 months, 16 days.

Surviving family members include his three sons and daughters-in-law, David and CeCe Kasparek, Pendleton, Ore.; Rodney and Judy Kasparek, Kodiak, Alaska; Russel Kasparek, Kana, Hawaii; one daughter and three sons-in-law, Ed Ginter, Moses Lake; Dawn and Duane Harris, Lemmon, S.D.; Glenn Jackson, West Point, Wash.; 18 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Viola on Dec. 14, 2002, 2 daughters, Audrey Ginter and LaVonne Jackson, four brothers, John Jacob, Albert, and Peter Kasparek, three sisters, Katherine Ward, Rose Carrol, and Mary Marchinek.