James Michael Casper, 82, of Zionsville, passed away Saturday, February 9, 2019.Jim was born January 4, 1937, a son of the late Louis and Lorene (Bleckmann) Casper of Evansville, IN. He married Vera Milligan on May 2, 1959 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Evansville. He graduated from Bosse Memorial High School in 1954, then attended Evansville College where he earned his Bachelors of Science in Biology. He later attended graduate school at Indiana University and Butler University.Jim started his career as a Microbiologist at Pittman-Moore (Dow) in 1959 and stayed with the Dow Chemical Company for 35 years of service. Upon retirement he worked for the State of Indiana through the Purdue Extension Services in Southeastern Indiana.Jim was very active in the Zionsville community. He was a member of the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce and was honored with the Town Crier Award. Jim served on the Zionsville School Board for many years. He also helped to establish the Zionsville Youth Football League and coached numerous football, baseball and softball teams. He helped start Cub Scout Pack #750, and also served as Scoutmaster of Zionsville Troop #358. He was one of the original members of St. Alphonsus Ligouri Catholic Church in Zionsville, where he was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus.After raising their family in Zionsville, Jim and Vera first moved to Cincinnati and then to a 100 acre farm in Aurora, Indiana, where they shared some of the happiest memories of their life. They returned to Zionsville in 2001.Survivors include his loving wife of 59 years, Vera; children Stephen (Karen) Casper, Scott Casper, Sharon Fields, Stewart (Donna) Casper, Stacey (Jay) Hoelscher, and French exchange student Sylvain (Sylvie) Vallois; 12 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; 5 siblings and several nieces, nephews and cousins.Family and friends will gather Friday, February 22, 2019 for visitation from 10am-12pm at St. Alphonsus Ligouri Catholic Church, 1870 W. Oak St. Zionsville, IN 46077. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12pm, immediately following the visitation at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to the PAACI (Parkinson’s Awareness Association of Central Indiana), P.O. Box 19575 Indianapolis, IN 46219, or Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46202. Arrangements were entrusted to Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Care in Zionsville, IN.
