Genevieve Kasprzak's Obituary
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Genny Kasprzak, 87, passed to Eternal Life on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. She passed peacefully, surrounded by love and her favorite people on earth—her son, Jim, his wife, Barb and her three dearly cherished grandsons—Ian, Ryan and Evan.
Genny was born as Genevieve Mary LeBerge on September 3, 1926 in North Dakota. Later, her parents, Stanley and Lucy, packed up all eleven kids and transplanted them to Longview, Washington. Genny matured into a head-turning beauty and commenced her pursuit of a nursing career. While student nursing, Genny met a dashing young soldier, Louis Kasprzak. They fell magically in love. Louie convinced her to marry him and move to his hometown of Milwaukee, WI to start their own family. Genny began her nursing career at Milwaukee County General, Louie opened an automotive service business and they gave birth to their only child, James Louis, whom they called Jimmy.
Louie’s business started to take off. Genny left her nursing career to help her husband open National Auto Electric. Together, they nurtured and grew their business. Genny, Lou and Jim enjoyed life pursuing the guys’ passion for all things mechanical and fast. The three of them spent their free time at the racetrack, on ski hills or in the garage devising ways to go even faster. Then, suddenly, their life was shattered when Lou was killed during an act of kindness helping a neighbor.
Genny, with courage and grace, bravely built a new life for her and Jim. She returned to nursing after over a decade out of the field and resumed sharing her gifts of compassion and caring as a surgical nurse at Columbia/St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee.
Genny retired to Anderson, SC where she continued to create a beautiful life. She generously shared her time and talents by volunteering at her parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church and in her community at Meals on Wheels. But, by far, her most joyful newly developed passion was performing with Anderson Senior Follies for over 20 years. She also served as assistant producer and on the board of directors. Genny STARTED tap dancing and clogging at the ripe young age of 60! She often joked that she inherited her dancing talent from her grandsons!
Most recently, Genny resided at Emeritus at Anderson Place where she made many wonderful friends who will miss her dearly.
Genny is survived by her loving son, James, his wonderful wife, Barbara, her siblings—Rita (Swanson), Rosie (Chadderton), Earl, Mary Lou (Green), Arlene (Silvey), Roy, Jim and their families, and her cherished grandsons—Ian, Ryan and Evan.
Genny is preceded in death by her beloved Louie, her parents, and her siblings—Edward, Loraine (Loranger) and Gene.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Genny’s life at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1200 Cornelia Rd, Anderson, SC 29621 on Saturday, January 4th. There will be a visitation at 10:00 AM followed by a Remembrance Mass at 11:00 AM and a luncheon immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions, in Genny’s memory, to Hospice of the Upstate-Callie & John Rainey Hospice House, Anderson, SC or to The American Cancer Society.
GRACEFUL. GRACIOUS. GENEROUS.
Genny, you will be missed and loved always.
The family is being served by James Funeral Home of Huntersville. www.jamesfuneralhomeLKN.com Condolence messages can be left on their website.
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